The visible portions of Mr. Trump’s meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders largely proceeded “very, very well,” though “the proof will be in the pudding in the coming days,” according to Bradley Bowman, the senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Bowman had hoped that the leaders, going into Monday, would “present a unified image of strength,” and felt that this largely occurred. He expressed his hope that Mr. Trump perceives the day as a “big win” for the United States since it “strengthens Mr. Trump’s negotiating hand,” cautioning him not to “fritter that away.”
However, Bowman has voiced worries that Mr. Trump’s Alaska meeting with Putin might “provide Putin an opportunity to further delay or avoid consequences, and so far that’s what has happened.”
“At some point, you’re going to have to impose some consequences,” Bowman said of the United States’ posture toward Russia.
Before the Alaska summit, Mr. Trump had warned that Russia would encounter “severe consequences” if it didn’t cease the fighting. But on Monday, he mentioned that a ceasefire might not be a prerequisite for a trilateral meeting.
“I thought that was the most unfortunate excerpt” from today’s meeting, Bowman remarked. He added that a ceasefire is “the most obvious concession [Putin] should make.”
“He’s continued to attack Ukraine and Ukrainians,” Bowman said, speaking to Putin’s unwillingness to end the war peacefully.
