Russia has accused the United States of not upholding “understandings” made between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump during a summit in Alaska last August, indicating rising frustration from Moscow.
In just three days, three high-ranking Russian officials have claimed, without going into details, that Washington hasn’t followed through.
These remarks come after an increase in Ukraine’s drone strikes deep within Russia – including two assaults last week on a Moscow oil refinery – and during a Group of Seven summit where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed Mr Trump and other Western leaders that Kyiv was making progress in the war.
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Moscow disputes this claim and has continued its own heavy bombardments.
Since Mr Trump started attempting last year to bring an end to the war in Ukraine-sometimes criticizing Mr Putin but often blaming Mr Zelensky for not securing a deal-the Kremlin has repeatedly shown appreciation for his efforts.
Following the Alaska summit, it frequently referenced “the spirit of Anchorage”-a term analysts say reflects Russia’s view that Mr Trump is sympathetic to its primary demand that Ukraine relinquish control of its entire Donbas region in exchange for halting fighting elsewhere.
The US hasn’t clarified what was agreed upon, if anything, and allied leaders were skeptical about whether Mr Trump accomplished anything by welcoming Mr Putin so warmly.
Yet just one month after the summit, Mr Trump unexpectedly suggested that Ukraine could regain all territories seized by Russia, leading to disappointment from Moscow soon after.
In one of several high-level statements regarding the meeting, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated on Sunday that only one side had upheld their commitments while “the other side, as it now appears, has not been fully able to do its part.”
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that perhaps the summit was merely a US tactic to buy time for rearming the Kyiv regime.
Mr Lavrov’s deputy, Sergei Ryabkov, also claimed the US had strayed from the “fundamental understandings” reached in Alaska. According to Interfax he mentioned that dialogue with the US would still continue.
“We also see Washington’s line moving closer to the most rabid anti-Russian policies pursued by the US’s closest European allies-namely, the UK and France,” another agency RIA quoted Mr Ryabkov as saying about last week’s G7 summit in France.
Gerhard Mangott, an Austrian analyst who closely follows Putin’s moves noted this shift indicates Moscow’s anxiety over a “very critical situation for the Russian economy and military,” especially given an uptick in Ukrainian attacks inside Russia. He pointed out that Moscow suspects these actions are being supported by the US.
“Putin needs to provide a visible response for his people showing he still has options,” said Mr Mangott while predicting further military escalation alongside a push from Russia to regain Trump’s support.
Mr Putin remarked on Tuesday regarding recent Ukrainian strikes that “the entire West” is backing Kyiv.
Oleg Ignatov from International Crisis Group mentioned how disappointed Russia is with no US mediation efforts since February when Mr Trump initiated conflict against Iran along with Israel shifting Washington’s focus away.
Russia has consistently ruled out any possibility of mediation from European nations which have shown little willingness or ability encourage Kyiv towards significant concessions.
I gnato v expressed R ussians’ desire fo r t he U S t o restart di plomacy so they can wrap up t he war on terms favorable t o them.
“ There ’s no structured diplomatic process , there ’s no deal on th table , there ’s actually nothing , ” said I gn at ov.
“The Russians are very disappointed about this , they really want t he Americans involved.”
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