A long way for nothing?
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a joint press conference after their meeting in Alaska on Friday. BBC correspondents Anthony Zurcher (North America) and Steve Rosenberg (Russia) stayed behind to provide their perspectives on the takeaways.
What did the reporters have to say?
While Trump characterized the meeting as a success, the correspondents noted several areas of tension and disagreement. They discussed the implications of the war in Ukraine, Russia's interference in US elections, and the possibility of a new arms race. Rosenberg emphasized the need for the US and Russia to cooperate on global challenges, despite their ongoing conflicts. Zurcher highlighted the diminishing returns of these meetings and the diminishing popularity of both leaders in their respective countries. They concluded that, while the two leaders may feel they accomplished something by meeting face-to-face, the broader diplomatic and national security goals seem elusive.
Press Conference Highlights
The presidents declined to answer questions individually, opting instead for a "pre-briefed rapporteur press conference". Their handlers selected a few pre-selected reporters who asked pre-cleared questions, with Putin complaining that the reporters were picked by the State Department. The questions focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the possibility of peace negotiations. Both leaders attempted to cast their actions in a positive light, with Putin claiming that Russia's recent invasion had resulted in shorter wars and quicker peace agreements, while Trump claimed that his efforts had resulted in Ukraine getting "richer and richer". Both leaders avoided directly addressing the allegations of war crimes arising from the conflict.
