Ben Shaprio on Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: Incentivize Russia Against Further Expansion into Europe

Last week, President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a historic summit in Alaska to discuss ending the more than three-year conflict in Ukraine that has claimed thousands of lives. Ben Shapiro analyzed the summit, arguing that Trump is positioning the United States to establish better relations through a Henry Kissinger-like deal that would curb Russian aggression through economic and diplomatic means, while also giving Russia a greater incentive to align with the West over China. 

President Trump has proven to be a force for peace, ending six major world conflicts within his first six months as President, reversing the disastrous trade deals of the previous administration, and offering new trade deals to incentivize diplomatic cooperation. Trump is determined to “stop the killing” around the world, particularly in Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of thousands since the conflict was allowed to begin under Biden’s weak leadership.

Shapiro highlighted that President Trump is positioning the United States to be a closer ally with Russia in a move similar to Henry Kissinger’s deal with China in the early 1970s, which gave diplomatic and economic incentives for peace over hostile alliances that challenge Western influence. Shapiro said that through this summit and opening further dialogue with Russia, Trump is giving Putin economic and diplomatic motivations to wrap up the war and to pursue peace. Putin made it clear he was willing to negotiate with Trump, even saying that if Trump were President for the last four years, the conflict likely would not have escalated.