**Trump Meeting to be a Test for Putin, Ukraine’s Involvement in Future Peace Efforts**
The upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to be a significant test for the Kremlin leader. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the summit will also involve Ukraine in future peace efforts if it goes well.
Rutte stated that when it comes to peace talks, ceasefire agreements, and security guarantees for Ukraine, the country will have to be involved. However, he emphasized that the meeting on Friday is crucial to assess Putin’s commitment to finding a solution.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet in Alaska on August 15 as part of US efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Rutte noted that any agreement reached without Ukraine’s participation would not be final or binding.
**NATO Leader Describes Putin as Main Threat**
Rutte described Putin as the main threat to the Western alliance, citing Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. He stressed that Putin has no say in key issues such as NATO’s posture on the eastern flank, which includes countries like Latvia and Lithuania.
**Russia’s Maximalist Demands**
In previous direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Moscow issued maximalist demands, including that Ukraine give up its NATO aspirations and demilitarize. These conditions were deemed unacceptable by Kyiv, leading to a stalemate in negotiations.
**Previous Peace Talks Fail to Yield Results**
Earlier this year, US attempts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia failed, despite three rounds of direct talks in Istanbul. The meetings resulted in several prisoner exchanges but no progress toward a ceasefire due to Russia’s uncompromising stance.
**Trump’s Deadline Passes with No Sanctions**
Despite Russia’s refusal to halt hostilities, Trump never imposed sanctions on Moscow after the August 8 deadline for a ceasefire passed.
As tensions continue to escalate between Ukraine and Russia, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin will be closely watched. The involvement of Ukraine in future peace efforts, as emphasized by Rutte, highlights the complexities and challenges of resolving the conflict.
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