Opinion Express View: For end to conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all parties need to be on the table

There is a symbolism to the location of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that speaks to the broader picture three-and-a-half years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Alaska, once part of Russia, was sold to the US in the 19th century and is an important piece in the countries’ shared history. Geographically, it is the closest point between Russia and America. But the venue also frames an absence: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be present at the meeting, nor will any of the US’s European allies, who view Putin’s alleged expansionism as a direct threat. A statement by Italy, France, Germany, Poland and the European Commission welcomed the meeting, while insisting that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine”. While Trump has said that “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both [Russia and Ukraine]” may be necessary to resolve the conflict, Zelenskyy has insisted that “Ukraine will not gift their land to the occupier”.

For Moscow — unlike its past adventures in Georgia and Crimea — Ukraine has turned out to be a protracted conflict with severe economic, political and manpower costs. Rather than fortifying Russia’s standing on the global stage, the conflict has made it more dependent on China. Its actions have also united much of Europe and led to an expansion of NATO, diminishing rather than enhancing Russia’s security. Ukraine has received considerable monetary and strategic support from the West — but the war is taking its toll. The change of guard in Washington has also made the US’s support more conditional and uncertain. In fact, the drive from the Trump administration to end the conflict has as much to do with domestic politics as it does with America’s strategic interests. Throughout his election campaign last year, Trump insisted that the conflict was avoidable and that he would end the war and ensure a “deal” between the two countries as president. The continuing conflict hurts Trump with the MAGA base, and his growing frustration with Putin has been evident in his social media posts, including those that threatened sanctions.

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The repercussions of the Ukraine conflict have been felt beyond Europe. Supply chains of essentials, including food and fuel, were disrupted. New Delhi has consistently been a voice for peace through dialogue in the region and has welcomed the Alaska meeting. This moral stand is also practical: India faces an additional 25 per cent tariff from the US, ostensibly because it purchases Russian oil. However, given the hard stands taken by Moscow and Kyiv, and the absence of Ukraine and Europe in Alaska, it is important to temper the expectations of Friday’s meeting. That said, a concrete proposal for a ceasefire and a well-laid-out roadmap to peace could move the needle significantly.