Putin’s Unyielding Demands Risk Undermining Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of Trump Summit

The upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska could mark a critical juncture in the ongoing war in Ukraine—but not necessarily for the better. Far from signaling a path toward genuine peace, Moscow’s maximalist demands reveal a Kremlin strategy driven by territorial ambition and geopolitical coercion, imperiling both Ukrainian sovereignty and America’s national security interests. Why Does Putin Refuse to Compromise? Since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has refused to waver from an agenda that seeks far more than just a ceasefire. The Kremlin insists on international...