The Kremlin leader, buoyed by his diplomatic success in Alaska, is treading carefully around US President Donald Trump. He hasn't shifted from his hard-line approach, while the Russian military is escalating its offensive.

Meetings in Alaska and Washington were high on pomp and low on breakthroughs, but there were two potentially significant developments.

The Alaska Summit resest US-Russia relations, with Trump shifting on Ukraine, leaving Europe sidelined and raising questions over future security.