In a broadcast on ‘Sputnik’ radio, Mansour explained that ‘At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, America and European countries bet on achieving victory over Russia by supporting Ukraine, which did not happen.’ He emphasized that ‘Moscow is steadfast in its field position based on national security interests, vital space, and Russian sovereignty, which refuses the presence of a state threatening its security nearby.’
Mansour pointed out that ‘this issue paves the way for future global breakthroughs, especially as Trump took it upon himself to find a solution in Ukraine, such as the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk, freezing the front line, and signing a comprehensive peace agreement. Notably, Trump announced he would force Kyiv to make regional concessions in favor of Russia, meaning that Zelensky, who bet on the West and thought they would go to great lengths to achieve his goals in the conflict with Russia, did not get what he expected.’
Former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour noted that ‘the agreement will include land exchanges in favor of both parties’, considering that ‘what has been achieved for Russia in the prospective negotiations is an important accomplishment. Despite the harsh climate in Alaska, the warmth of the negotiating atmosphere seems to positively reflect the situation in Ukraine, paving the way for peace to end the ongoing conflict there.’
He continued: ‘We are facing a new phase, and the success of the Alaska negotiations may open the door to agreements between the giants, Russia and America, regarding other areas experiencing tensions, wars, or disturbances, making this meeting a prelude to broader settlements elsewhere. Perhaps Alaska is the beginning of redistributing international interests and areas of influence globally, much like what happened at the end of World War II in Yalta.’
US President Donald Trump said last Saturday that he would meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, as part of his efforts to mediate in ending the conflict in Ukraine. Trump wrote on his ‘Truth Social’ platform: ‘The highly anticipated meeting between me, as President of the United States, and President Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will be held next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the great state of Alaska.’
Yuri Ushakov, the Russian President’s assistant, told reporters: ‘Looking to the future, it is natural for us to aim to hold the next meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Russian soil. An invitation has already been extended to the American President.’ He noted that ‘in this American state, as in the Arctic, there are intersections, and there is an opportunity to implement various projects.’ Ushakov explained: ‘But, naturally, the presidents will undoubtedly focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.’
