After US President Trump and Russian President Putin concluded talks in Alaska on the Russia-Ukraine war on the 15th, John Bolton, who served as White House National Security Advisor during Trump’s first term, said the clear winner of these talks was Putin.
According to CNN, John Bolton said, "Trump didn't lose, but Putin clearly won ... Aside from more talks, Trump got nothing."
Bolton also said that Putin “made significant progress in rebuilding (bilateral) relations, which I’ve always believed was his key goal.”
Bolton pointed out: “He escaped sanctions, did not face a ceasefire, and the next round of talks hasn’t been scheduled. (Ukrainian President) Zelensky knew nothing before this press conference. It’s still early to say things are over, but I would say Putin achieved most of his objectives. Trump gained very little.”
Joint Press Conference Breaks Convention
In addition, CNN noted that Putin spoke first at the press conference. When the US President hosts foreign leaders, it is generally the case that the American leader delivers opening remarks, followed by the visiting dignitary.
Fox News White House reporter Heinrich said she had attended many such press conferences, “but this time, Putin came out first to speak to the media, and we’re on American soil.”
First Joint Press Conference in 7 Years
It had been seven years since Trump and Putin last attended a joint press conference together, which was in Helsinki and stirred much controversy because Trump sided with Russia over American intelligence agencies regarding “whether Russia interfered in the 2016 US election.”
In 2021, after the then US President Biden met with Putin in Geneva, he deliberately did not hold a joint press conference, opting instead to face the media alone. Analysts said this move was partly to avoid giving Putin a platform to interpret and manipulate the narrative of the bilateral talks.
Putin boarded his plane to return home less than an hour after the press conference ended, stopping at the Richardson National Cemetery beforehand to lay flowers at the grave of fallen Soviet soldiers. Trump also did not stay long in Alaska, departing on Air Force One at 4:20 p.m. local time (8:20 a.m. Malaysia time on the 16th) to return to Washington, having stayed about six hours in total.