Trump-Putin Meeting Seen as Diplomatic Victory for Russia Amid Crimea, EU Exclusion, and Macron's Initiative

The recent meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn varied analyses from international observers. Raúl Sohr, a Chilean journalist, characterized the encounter as a diplomatic victory for Russia, emphasizing that Russia will never relinquish control over Crimea. Sohr also criticized the U.S. for sidelining the European Union and Ukraine in the discussions, describing it as a significant slight to European interests. He noted that Steven Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy involved, lacks expertise in Ukrainian geography and history, paralleling his perceived shortcomings with those of Trump. French political figures have also weighed in, with Philippe Brun, a Socialist Party deputy, supporting French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative to include European voices in the dialogue ahead of the Trump-Putin summit. Similarly, analyst Eliott Mamane described the meeting as a diplomatic win for Putin. Overall, the summit is viewed by multiple analysts as favoring Russia's strategic position.