'Spirit of Anchorage' a shadow of itself one year after summit

One year after Donald Trump hosted Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska for a summit aimed at ending Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the diplomatic effort has stalled and the conflict has intensified. The "spirit of Anchorage" - a supposed climate of détente and renewed dialogue with Washington - has largely disappeared. US mediation efforts now stand still as Russia and Ukraine escalate their attacks, resulting in more civilian casualties than at any point since the early stages of the war.

President Trump broke with the West's policy of isolating Putin by welcoming him to Alaska, but there is no confirmed agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has maintained that an agreement was reached, however, the US has dismissed any notion of a deal. Russia's hopes for a "lasting peace" were centered on addressing what it perceives as the "root causes" of the conflict, specifically territorial claims on Ukraine in exchange for recognition of new borders and lifting of sanctions.

However, these demands were never formalized and the initiative ended in failure. US-led direct talks between Russia and Ukraine ground to a halt due to disagreements over territory, with Ukraine refusing to cede land and wanting an immediate ceasefire, while Washington demands an immediate cease-fire along the current frontline and territorial status to be resolved through full peace negotiations.

Recent US sanctions on Russia and the suspension of the New Start nuclear arms control treaty have further strained relations. Lavrov suggested that the Alaska summit may have been intended to buy time for Ukraine's military buildup. The two sides' conditions for peace are now deemed irreconcilable - Russia insists on territorial demands along with political and military concessions, while Ukraine rejects these as capitulation.

Both nations believe that force will enhance their negotiating position. Russia's military chief has stated that forces will continue their mission to liberate Donbas and Novorossiya, while Ukraine relies on its long-range missile campaign to cripple Russia's economy and society. The "spirit of Anchorage" has dissipated, leaving a path of "brutal escalation."