A six-room house in Alaska: how Putin and Trump are preparing for the meeting and why it is a risk for the US president
11 August 17:50
on August 15, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are to meet in Alaska. Anchorage is already preparing for big politics. Local realtor and honorary German consul Larry “Bo” Disbro said that he has rented his six-room house to the US Secret Service. However, can we expect any dramatic changes in the war and why could such a meeting be a political risk for Trump? Is a “territorial compromise” possible in the current situation?
Organizational preparations have already begun: local realtor and honorary German consul Larry Disbro (known as Bo) confirmed that he had leased one of his properties to the US Secret Service.
“Representatives of the US Secret Service contacted me this morning and asked if I had any vacant properties. One of the houses was just available on the dates they needed – a six-bedroom house in Anchorage. I can see why Alaska might be an attractive place for such a meeting from a historical perspective. But it still surprised me.” – Larry Disbro
Despite political controversies, Alaska has traditionally positioned itself as a diplomatic bridge between continents. In 2021, negotiations between the United States and China have already taken place here.
However, the story about renting a house looks like a small detail, but it conveys the atmosphere of the event well – the feeling that everything is happening quickly, a little behind the scenes. Maybe it was an attempt to create a closed and less formal space for negotiations, as far away from the public as possible.
Putin-Trump meeting is a risky step for the American president
In an exclusive commentary
According to the expert, compared to last spring, when the Kremlin failed to implement key demands, Ukraine’s position in the negotiations has significantly strengthened, while Trump’s ability to exert pressure has decreased.
“What has changed? Back then, Ukraine could not be forced to retreat from the regions that Putin demanded. Why should this happen now? Trump cannot lift sanctions that are controlled by Europeans. He is not able to transfer Ukrainian regions to Russia because he has no real leverage to do so,” Zahorodnyi said.
The political scientist emphasized that Ukraine’s relations with the United States in the field of arms have now moved to a commercial level.
“Europeans buy American weapons, America sells them – this suits both Trump and the manufacturers. Washington does not have the resources to put pressure on Ukraine, as it used to,” Taras Zahorodniy
Zahorodnyi believes that the meeting could be a reputational challenge for Trump: he criticizes Russia and threatens sanctions, but at the same time sits down with Putin. In the expert’s opinion, neither side will change its principled position:
“Zelensky has already said that he will not agree to concessions. Putin will not change his position either. Therefore, the venue of the meeting does not matter at all,” Taras Zahorodniy
Russian propagandists are preparing the population for the end of the war
Meanwhile, the Russian media space has intensified a campaign to “warm up” public opinion about the possible end of the war against Ukraine. Pro-government TV channels and propaganda telegram channels are spreading theories that “Putin and Trump” may sign a “plan to end the war” this Friday in Alaska.
No specific details or confirmation of this scenario are provided. Instead, the audience is given an emotional sense of an imminent “peaceful settlement” that is presented as the result of an agreement that is allegedly favorable to the Kremlin. Even the choice of location – Alaska – is used to create a dramatic effect.
This is a typical propaganda technique of first creating expectations and then offering the version of events that the authorities want. This way, the population is psychologically prepared for any decisions that the Kremlin can present as a “victory” or “compromise on its own terms.”
The Russian military is massively discussing the possible end of the war: at the front they are talking about demobilization
In various parts of the frontline, talk among the Russian military about the possible imminent end of the so-called “Joint Forces Operation” and returning home has increased dramatically. This was reported by the sources of the Kremlin Snuffbox publication, who are fighting in Russian units.
“The news of the negotiations with the Americans had a great impact on the guys. Many are already waiting for the war to end soon and for demobilization. Some even say that Volodymyr Volodymyrovych understands that it needs to be ended. So we will go home soon,” said an officer fighting in the Donetsk region.
Another officer who is in the Kherson region confirmed this:
“Soldiers have talked about demobilization from time to time before, but nothing like this has ever happened. I do not remember such a massive expectation of the end of the war. And it worries me, because I’m not sure that it will end this year.”
Official sources in the Kremlin and the Defense Ministry have not yet commented on the possibility of a quick end to the fighting.
“Demobilization, as we know, may be in the fall. There is nothing more to add,” said a Kremlin source.
Experts believe that such sentiments at the front may be related to an active media campaign on Russian TV channels promoting the theme of “peace agreements” between Putin and Donald Trump.
