“Time is on Russia’s Side”: Putin’s Believed Strategy Looms Over Trump Summit

A prevailing belief that “time is on Russia’s side” is looming over the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, with analysts suggesting Vladimir Putin is using the talks as a tactic, not a true peace effort. This assessment from the Institute for the Study of War challenges President Trump’s optimistic outlook on the meeting.
The Washington-based think tank argues that Putin believes he can outlast Ukraine and the West, and that he remains “uninterested in ending his war.” According to this view, the Alaska summit on August 15 is a strategic play by Moscow to engage the U.S. directly, seek concessions, and fracture Western unity, all while the war continues.
This contrasts sharply with Trump’s public statements. The U.S. President claimed that Putin “wants to see peace” and that a deal is “very close.” He has even floated a framework involving territorial swaps, which would be a significant concession to Moscow.
The reality on the 1,000-kilometre front line in Ukraine seems to align more with the skeptical analysis. Russian forces continue to press their advantage in Donetsk, and Ukrainian commanders see no evidence of Russia’s desire to negotiate. The summit will reveal whether Trump’s optimism or the analysts’ skepticism is closer to the truth.