Feeding a Narcissist: Ukraine Critiques Trump

At the U.S.–Russia summit held in Anchorage, President Putin exhibited calculated flattery toward President Trump—echoing Trump’s own words back to him and reinforcing his ego. As Al Jazeera reports, Putin’s response—“I can confirm that”—to Trump’s claim that he would have prevented the Ukraine war had he won the 2020 election is emblematic of this dynamic.
Al Jazeera

According to expert analysis from Oleksandr Kucherenko, Putin expertly manipulated Trump’s narcissistic tendencies, delivering affirmations, repetition, and subject matter tailored to Trump’s interests. The result was an empty declaration: “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
Al Jazeera

Even Putin’s eight-minute post-summit statement, rich in historical references—including Russia’s past ownership of Alaska—outlasted Trump’s mere three-minute address. Putin insisted that addressing the “root causes” of the war—his euphemistic insistence that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be negotiated—was essential before any peace.
Al Jazeera

Kyiv-based analyst Ihor Tyshkevych added that Russia’s negotiations extended well beyond Ukraine, spanning economic and geopolitical strategy, including efforts to constrain China. Ukraine, he stressed, remains secondary to Kremlin ambitions.
Al Jazeera

Final Takeaway

Ukraine viewed the summit not as diplomacy, but as a carefully choreographed performance: Putin flattering Trump’s ego to secure diplomatic advantage, with no meaningful progress on Ukraine’s sovereignty or prospects for peace. The optics and rhetoric underscore Ukraine’s growing concerns over being sidelined in discussions that directly affect its future.