Some have portrayed Donald Trump’s recent Alaska summit as a win for Vladimir Putin. Russian media played up Putin’s “victory” in glowing terms. Putin celebrated by sending dozens more missiles and drones that evening to attack Ukrainian churches, hospitals, schools, and civilian apartments, as he has been doing for three and a half years. But Monday’s White House summit made it clear that Putin and his apologists celebrated too soon.
Yes, Putin escaped, at least for now, the “severe consequences” that had been promised if he did not agree to a cease-fire by the deadline. But Monday’s historic White House summit of major NATO leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hosted by President Trump, established a potential path to lasting peace in offering Ukraine NATO-like security guarantees. President Trump was wise to play that card, as Putin has never invaded a NATO nation. But on Wednesday, Putin again showed his true colors as the Russian side clarified that they would only accept a NATO-like guarantee if Moscow had veto power over its enforcement. A bit like the criminal saying he will abide by the law if he can be his own judge.
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