August 16, 2025

Indicted War Criminal Plays Convicted Felon Like Fiddle


Indicted War Criminal Plays Convicted Felon Like Fiddle
Putin and Trump between two Lenins. Freeskipper / Dreamstime

In the first US-Russian Presidential summit since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the leaders of the two countries met at a remote Alaskan military base, shook hands, smiled, walked down a very long red carpet, drove around in the US limousine nicknamed “The Beast,” and then proceeded to resolve exactly nothing. 

In the buildup to the summit, Convicted Felon and Twice-Impeached President of the United States Donald Trump issued an ultimatum that there would be "severe consequences" for Putin if progress was not made on ending the war. 

No such progress was made, and so Trump let loose his flying monkeys. As he stated in a post-summit interview with Fox Newspeak, "I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now."

Indicted International War Criminal and Russian President for Life Vladimir Putin said in the joint press statement after the leaders’ long private meeting that he was "sincerely interested" in ending his War on Ukraine. But he also said that, to settle it, the "primary roots" of the conflict and the "legitimate concerns" for Russia had to be considered. Those concerns were not specifically noted, but most observers feel they stem from the fact that an independent country named Ukraine has the nerve to exist on Russia’s western border. 

“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said with the vacuous pomposity for which he is noted. Also, he said Ukrainian President should “take the deal.”

“It would be hard to imagine an event that could have gone better from the point of view of the Russian leader,” wrote The New York Times

Wolfgang Ischinger, head of the Munich Security Conference, said the summit was a clear "1-0" victory for Putin. "Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing," he posted on X. "As was to be feared: no ceasefire, no peace."

“The photo-op in and of itself essentially legitimizes war crimes,” said Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut. “[It] telegraphs to other autocrats or evil men around the world that they can get away with murdering civilians and still get a photo-op with the president of the United States.” 

Trump said that he would rate the meeting a 10 out of 10, saying, "I think the meeting was a 10 in the sense that we got along great."  

When asked about what agreements were made at his Alaskan Nothingburger Summit, Trump noted cryptically, "some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant. We have a very good chance of getting there. We didn't get there."

You Might Also Like

The Moscow Summit
  • May 01, 2002

The Moscow Summit

In May, US President George Bush became only the sixth sitting US President to visit Russia. On the eve of this visit, we met with one of Russia's leading Amerikanists, Georgi Bovt, and got his read on what to expect for the summit and the months beyond.
US & Russia: Allies Again?
  • November 01, 2001

US & Russia: Allies Again?

The September 11 terrorist bombings have changed everything, including, it seems, the nature of the US-Russian relationship. Russian Life talked with a Russian opinion leader to gauge what the future may hold.
A Soviet Leader in the US? Preposterous!
  • September 15, 2014

A Soviet Leader in the US? Preposterous!

When you're a Soviet dictator, it's rare that you get the chance to tour the US, visiting movie sets, meat freezers, and steel mills, being featured on TV, and laughing at angry farmers. Nikita Khrushchev got that chance 55 years ago. And he made the most of it.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955