Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump are still days away, but the two leaders’ upcoming meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine is already seen as a victory for the Kremlin, the Russian economy and global financial markets.
The discussions are set to take place on Friday in Alaska.
“This is already a big win for Putin to be invited for the first time since 2007 to meet with the U.S. president on American soil. Is a wonderful achievement, from his point of view, no conditions and the absence of Ukraine, the absence of any European representation. This is already a triumph,” Richard Portes, head of the Economics faculty at the London Business School, told CNBC Monday.
There are concerns that Ukraine could be forced to cede Russian-occupied territory to Moscow, and the mood is dour in Kyiv, whose officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have so far not been invited to attend the talks.
Kyiv has said no deal about its future would be struck in its absence, and European leaders are pushing strongly for Ukraine’s involvement. The U.S., for its part, has said its considering inviting Zelenskyy, NBC News reported.
