SINCE his return to the White House Donald Trump has bent the world to his will. 

Nato countries scrambled to finally cough up for their own defence, and its boss publicly — and very painfully — called the President “Daddy”. 

Over the past eight months, the Oval Office, newly adorned with luxury, has become a stage for global leaders visiting to pay their respects at the court of President Trump.

Those that have not fallen in line, like the Iranians, found themselves on the wrong end of a B-2 bomber. 

Despite dire warnings from experts, Trump’s trade wars haven’t caused the global economic turmoil many feared. Meanwhile, the American media, which spent his first term in a frenzy, seems to have slightly mellowed.

Almost everyone has fallen in line, bar one leader: Vladimir Putin. 

Although he pledged to end the conflict in Ukraine within hours of taking charge, the self-proclaimed “President of Peace” underestimated the challenge, especially with the Russians not easily swayed by his intentions.

Trump laments that Putin talks a good game in private while continuing to kill and maim civilians, and simply shunning calls for a ceasefire. 

The White House stirred up its allies by proposing to reintegrate Russia and lift sanctions, but it remains uncertain if today’s meeting will significantly advance towards peace.

Those that have not fallen in line, like the Iranians, found themselves on the wrong end of a B-2 bomber

In the meantime, the UK, France, and Germany are hurrying to ensure any resolutions do not compromise Ukraine’s impressive resilience over the past three and a half years.

When the pair last met in 2019, Trump was still haunted by accusations the Russians helped tilt his wafer thin election victory in his favour. 

President Trump travels to Alaska, prepared for a face-off with the Kremlin leader from a stronger stance, though this remains a high-risk strategy for his administration.

Trump warns there will be “very severe consequences” if they cannot do a deal, but for Putin even having the meeting goes a massive way toward ending his status as a global pariah. 

So why would he fold now? 

Many would wager the odds of Trump walking out of the talks tonight are far higher than any meaningful step toward peace.