Trump's Diplomatic Gamble: The High-Stakes Talks with Putin

In early August, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, following a pivotal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, presented a bold announcement to President Donald Trump: Russia was poised to make major territorial concessions to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Despite Trump's initial optimism and a proposed historic summit indicating potential land swaps, diplomatic efforts were soon mired in confusion. An alarming proposal emerged from Witkoff, suggesting that Russia would withdraw from certain Ukrainian regions, a move that shocked European leaders and contradicted their assessments.

Ultimately, the much-anticipated Trump-Putin summit in Alaska concluded with cordial exchanges but no tangible peace agreement. Critics argue Trump's unorthodox approach sowed confusion, while supporters claim it has yielded unprecedented diplomatic breakthroughs.

(With inputs from agencies.)