A nuanced interaction between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at their recent press conference in Alaska may provide insights into their dynamic.
The much-anticipated meeting between Putin and Trump aimed at discussing a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine finally took place on Friday (August 15).
Located in Anchorage, Alaska, the two leaders engaged in an extensive discussion about a potential deal, which lasted approximately three hours.
Following their meeting, they addressed the press in a 12-minute conference, announcing that no agreement had been reached—a prediction Trump had already made.
Before their discussion, Trump made a candid statement regarding his confidence in brokering a peace deal.
Trump expressed: “I’ll tell you what. I’ve had that conversation with him. I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him then I go home and I see that a rocket hit a nursing home or a rocket hit an apartment building, and people are laying dead in the streets.
“So, I guess the answer to that is no, because I’ve had this conversation. I want to end the war. It’s Biden’s war, but I want to end it.
“I’ll be very proud to end this war, along with the five other wars I ended. But, I guess the answer to that is probably no.”
After their private meeting, Trump told reporters: “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”
He continued: “I’m going to start making a few phone calls and tell them what happened. But we had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to, and there are just a very few that are left.”
Despite not reaching a deal, and the perceived tension due to exchanges between the Administration and the Kremlin, an expert offers a different perspective.
Journalist and political commentator Mark Halperin shared his observations in the Daily Mail about a moment during the conference that may indicate the leaders’ mutual feelings.
He noted that Trump addressed Putin as ‘Vladimir’ in public, describing it as a ‘gesture of comradery and esteem’.
Halperin also highlighted that Putin broke from traditional protocols by speaking first at the press conference.
Putin spoke for eight minutes, as opposed to Trump’s three, sharing more of his perspective on the matter than expected.
In another display of familiarity, Putin seemed to commend Trump by suggesting that had Joe Biden not won the 2020 election, the conflict in Ukraine might not have occurred.
Body language experts analyzed Trump’s handshake, characterized by a yank and pull, interpreting it as a power move, but noted Trump’s whisper to Putin as a sign of closeness.
Despite a tumultuous relationship since Trump assumed office earlier this year, Patty Ann Wood remarked that their interaction resembled ‘two old friends seeing each other after a long time’.