Vladimir Putin will know precisely how he needs this to play out.
He’s the grasp negotiator who’s been doing this for many years.
He’ll be throughout all the main points, the historical past and the authorized arguments. And he’ll know that his opponent just isn’t.
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His technique will likely be to use that.
I feel the last word purpose for the Kremlin chief is to persuade Donald Trump that the quickest path to peace is a deal on Russia’s phrases.
However he cannot current it like that. He’ll have to present the looks of constructing concessions as a result of he is aware of the American president cannot lose face right here. He should have one thing to indicate from this summit.
That one thing may very well be the promise of a gathering with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which Trump has as soon as once more talked up the probabilities of.
But when that is the case, I think it will be a unfastened promise, with strings hooked up. One thing the White Home can declare is progress, however might show unachievable.
I anticipate the Russian president will search to play on Trump’s need for a speedy decision to the battle and his need to take credit score for it.
Learn extra:
What could Ukraine be asked to give up?
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That is why Putin has been buttering him up forward of the assembly, praising Trump’s “energetic and honest” efforts to search out peace.
I feel he’ll additionally attempt to enchantment to Trump’s transactional nature and search to tempt him with numerous sweeteners that might come from siding with Russia.
Meaning issues like uncommon earth offers and joint tasks within the Arctic, which is why the Russian delegation contains finance minister Anton Siluanov and Kremlin funding envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
It additionally contains defence minister Andrei Belousov, which could recommend that Putin is severe about proposing a deal on nuclear arms management, after elevating the prospect of it on Thursday.
Just one pact stays between the US and Russia, and it expires in February.
A brand new one would virtually actually be a prize the American president would go for.
The problem for Putin is to make Trump really feel like he’s the one in cost.
For the previous KGB agent, that may not be too difficult.
















