While President Donald Trump is touting his upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin as a major step towards peace, the meeting is a risky proposition with significant potential downsides for the U.S. and its allies. Critics fear the meeting could backfire, strengthening Putin’s hand while undermining Western unity.
One major risk is that the summit could legitimize Putin on the world stage without achieving any tangible progress. A photo-op with the U.S. president could be used as powerful propaganda by the Kremlin, suggesting Russia is not the international pariah the West has tried to make it.
Another downside is the potential for a bad deal. Trump’s hints at “swapping of territories” have raised fears that he might agree to a settlement that rewards Russian aggression, sets a dangerous international precedent, and is ultimately rejected by Ukraine, leading to more instability.
Finally, by meeting Putin without President Zelenskyy, Trump risks alienating key European allies and fracturing the united front against Russia. The perception that the U.S. is cutting a bilateral deal over the heads of its partners could do lasting damage to transatlantic relations, regardless of the summit’s outcome.