A Half-Baked Alaska Summit

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Much as Trump may envy Putin's gangsterism, he won't want to emerge from the meeting as Putin's poodle. There are many ways this summit could go wrong, including vague talk of "land swapping" between Russia and Ukraine.

But there's also a way Trump can do something useful.

Posted by Corky at 06:04 PM | 12 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

It's a fun article... Bob Kraft's SB ring stolen by Vlad story and all.

But if Trump ends up doing something useful, well, that would be the shocker.

The WH is already rolling back expectations:

"Leavitt press conference lowers expectations for Alaska summit - again"

Yesterday, Donald Trump described Friday's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "feel-out meeting". This afternoon, his press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it will be a "listening session"."

www.bbc.com

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-12 06:08 PM

" described Friday's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "feel-out meeting"."

C'mon now. Putin got to third base the first time they met.

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-08-12 06:13 PM

sorry about the thread link firewall... it wasn't there when I copied it, and I don't see it off their site yet

#3 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-12 06:13 PM

Pres Trump already gave Pres Putin what he wanted, and that was before negotiations even began.

Pres Trump has said that Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO.

That was a very major concession that Pres Trump made to Pres Putin.

What concessions has Pres Putin made so far to Ukraine, or even to Pres Trump?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-12 06:26 PM

Zelensky rules out ceding Donbas region as Russians make fresh advance
www.bbc.com

... President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine would reject any Russian proposal to give up the Donbas region in exchange for a ceasefire, warning it could be used as a springboard for future attacks. ...

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-12 06:28 PM

@#5 ... a springboard for future attacks ...

... and not allowing Ukraine to become a valued NATO member would only increase the likelihood of those attacks.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-12 06:29 PM

Has Trump surrendered to Putin yet?

Just checking in.

#7 | Posted by Zed at 2025-08-12 06:42 PM

his press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it will be a "listening session"."

Trump knows better than to talk back to daddy.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-12 07:59 PM

What concessions has Pres Putin made so far to Ukraine, or even to Pres Trump?

He pinky swore he'd never invade Ukraine again!