Alaska and Beyond     Author: Albert P. Khorev

The article explores the Alaska summit between Russia and the United States, a rare meeting after years of frosty relations. It rejects the childish notion of winners and losers, stressing that politics is not cricket but the art of compromise. The summit marked a step forward in shaping a framework for peace in Ukraine, with Russia making clear that it seeks neither endless bloodshed nor territorial conquest but security guarantees and justice for the Russian-speaking population of Donbass. It recalls how these communities endured shelling and persecution since 2014, with the Minsk Agreements proving little more than a smokescreen to buy Kiev time to rearm. The writer argues that Russia favours diplomacy over brute force, yet refuses a shallow ceasefire that would allow the West to rearm Ukraine and reignite the fire later.

The article also highlights Trump’s role in pushing for a settlement, contrasting it with Europe’s hawkish posture of prolonging the war under the pretext of peacekeeping. Myths about Russian child abductions are dismantled with hard numbers, while emphasis is placed on Putin’s push to restart direct talks with Ukraine. The article paints Europe as trapped in its own fear of a strong Russia, unwilling to accept Moscow’s outreach for a broader security deal. The final message is blunt: Russia sees Ukraine as a brotherly nation, is not itching for conflict with NATO, and is ready for compromise if its security red lines are respected. The ball, the writer insists, now lies in the Western court.

Overview:

The article portrays the Alaska summit as a crucial turning point where long-frozen relations between Moscow and Washington showed signs of thaw. It underscores that the conflict in Ukraine is less about land and more about people, identity and security guarantees, while exposing Europe’s reluctance to accept a durable peace.

NOTES:

The article discusses the Alaska summit between Russia and the United States, the first face-to-face meeting since 2021, which aimed at easing strained relations and exploring a pathway to resolve the Ukraine conflict. It stresses that politics is not about winners and losers but about compromise, with Russia emphasizing diplomacy despite its battlefield advantage. The article highlights Russia’s stance that the war is not territorial but about protecting the Russian-speaking population of Donbass, who suffered shelling and persecution since 2014. It critiques the Minsk Agreements as a ploy by the West to rearm Ukraine rather than ensure peace. President Trump is portrayed as pushing for a settlement, unlike European states that seek to prolong the conflict through peacekeeping troops. Myths about Russia abducting thousands of Ukrainian children are dismissed with figures showing only 339 verified cases, some of whom were returned through Qatari mediation, while 228 children have been killed by Ukrainian shelling since 2022. The article concludes that Russia does not seek endless war or aggression against NATO but wants genuine security guarantees and a comprehensive deal, leaving the responsibility for peace in the hands of the West.

Relevant CSS syllabus or subjects:

• Current Affairs: Ukraine conflict, Russia-US relations, NATO’s role in Eastern Europe
• International Relations: Realism, balance of power, security dilemmas
• Political Science: Conflict resolution, diplomacy, state narratives
• Essay Paper: Themes on war and peace, global security architecture, realpolitik in practice

Notes for Beginners:

The article says Russia and the US met in Alaska to talk about ending the Ukraine war. Russia says the war is not about grabbing land but about protecting Russian-speaking people who were attacked for years. For example, in Donbass, people have faced shelling since 2014. Russia also says the West used peace talks like the Minsk Agreement only to buy time for Ukraine to get more weapons. The US under Trump now wants peace talks, while Europe wants to keep the war going by sending more troops. Russia has also returned some Ukrainian children after verification, rejecting the claim that it kidnapped thousands. The article ends by saying Russia wants peace, but only if its security concerns are respected.

Facts and Figures:

• Russia and the US met in Alaska in August 2025, their first in-person summit since 2021
• Three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks resumed in May 2025 but stalled due to Kiev’s demands
• Ukrainian negotiators listed only 339 suspected missing children, while 228 children have died from Ukrainian shelling since 2022
• The Minsk Agreements were endorsed by the UN Security Council but later used by Kiev to rearm
• Trump pushed for settlement while the EU insisted on sending military forces as peacekeepers

To sum up, the article suggests that peace in Ukraine will not come through sloganeering but through compromise grounded in security realities. It strips away myths, exposes propaganda and underscores that Russia, despite its battlefield edge, prefers a diplomatic endgame. It is a living example of power politics in action, reminding us that in the theatre of international relations, it is interests not emotions that dictate the script.