August 16, 2025

Indicted War Criminal Plays Convicted Felon Like Fiddle


Indicted War Criminal Plays Convicted Felon Like Fiddle
Putin and Trump between two Lenins. Freeskipper / Dreamstime

In the first US-Russian Presidential summit since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the leaders of the two countries met at a remote Alaskan military base, shook hands, smiled, walked down a very long red carpet, drove around in the US limousine nicknamed “The Beast,” and then proceeded to resolve exactly nothing. 

In the buildup to the summit, Convicted Felon and Twice-Impeached President of the United States Donald Trump issued an ultimatum that there would be "severe consequences" for Putin if progress was not made on ending the war. 

No such progress was made, and so Trump let loose his flying monkeys. As he stated in a post-summit interview with Fox Newspeak, "I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now."

Indicted International War Criminal and Russian President for Life Vladimir Putin said in the joint press statement after the leaders’ long private meeting that he was "sincerely interested" in ending his War on Ukraine. But he also said that, to settle it, the "primary roots" of the conflict and the "legitimate concerns" for Russia had to be considered. Those concerns were not specifically noted, but most observers feel they stem from the fact that an independent country named Ukraine has the nerve to exist on Russia’s western border. 

“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said with the vacuous pomposity for which he is noted. Also, he said Ukrainian President should “take the deal.”

“It would be hard to imagine an event that could have gone better from the point of view of the Russian leader,” wrote The New York Times

Wolfgang Ischinger, head of the Munich Security Conference, said the summit was a clear "1-0" victory for Putin. "Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing," he posted on X. "As was to be feared: no ceasefire, no peace."

“The photo-op in and of itself essentially legitimizes war crimes,” said Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut. “[It] telegraphs to other autocrats or evil men around the world that they can get away with murdering civilians and still get a photo-op with the president of the United States.” 

Trump said that he would rate the meeting a 10 out of 10, saying, "I think the meeting was a 10 in the sense that we got along great."  

When asked about what agreements were made at his Alaskan Nothingburger Summit, Trump noted cryptically, "some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant. We have a very good chance of getting there. We didn't get there."

You Might Also Like

The Moscow Summit
  • May 01, 2002

The Moscow Summit

In May, US President George Bush became only the sixth sitting US President to visit Russia. On the eve of this visit, we met with one of Russia's leading Amerikanists, Georgi Bovt, and got his read on what to expect for the summit and the months beyond.
US & Russia: Allies Again?
  • November 01, 2001

US & Russia: Allies Again?

The September 11 terrorist bombings have changed everything, including, it seems, the nature of the US-Russian relationship. Russian Life talked with a Russian opinion leader to gauge what the future may hold.
A Soviet Leader in the US? Preposterous!
  • September 15, 2014

A Soviet Leader in the US? Preposterous!

When you're a Soviet dictator, it's rare that you get the chance to tour the US, visiting movie sets, meat freezers, and steel mills, being featured on TV, and laughing at angry farmers. Nikita Khrushchev got that chance 55 years ago. And he made the most of it.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955