The 'deal maker' fails to cut a deal with Putin

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Robert Morris University.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the U.S. state of Alaska and little came of it. It was probably inevitable.

The two men talked for less time than expected and despite the rhetorical niceties that Trump delivered, the fact is that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a nation that continues to be armed by the West to the tune of millions and millions of dollars, will go on.

That means no ceasefire, which was the minimum Trump wanted; no end to the destruction and no clarity on what comes next.

The U.S. media certainly built up the meeting between the two men. Words such as "high stakes" were used to describe the conversation, which took place on American soil, something that at least one news organization suggested was a victory for Putin. Simply by being allowed into the U.S., despite the international arrest warrant issued against him more than two years ago by the International Criminal Court, was spun as a success for him.

The U.S. commerce and treasury secretaries and leading Russian business leaders accompanied the presidents, a move that hinted at the potential for more than just the Ukraine conflict being on the table. However, Trump had said en route to Alaska that a ceasefire in the war had to come before any other doors were opened. One can presume those doors will remain closed.

Putin rode in the so-called Beast, the limousine that transports the U.S. president, meaning Trump saw him as an equal. Few other heads of state have received that honor.

A few hours later, and once the talks fell apart, there were no smiles. Trump struggled to offer a positive assessment of the talks: "We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to. There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there. We didn't get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there." Good luck trying to sort out what that means.

Trump's critics will likely continue to remind domestic and international audiences that he promised to end the conflict within 24 hours of re-entering the White House. He has not delivered. And there is no certainty that he ever will.

So, what might come next? One thing is certain: At some point, Trump will take to social media. He likely will focus on how sincere he was in getting a deal done. He might even blast Putin. The Russian president does not engage in social media, so whatever thoughts he has will remain known only to him and maybe a few others.

But let's not forget that Putin will be lauded at home. He met his American counterpart, a move that ends whatever isolation he has endured from the West over the past few years. There will be renewed questions in the Russian media about the West's sincerity in ending the conflict and whether it really wants to destroy Russia. In this scenario, Putin will be seen as affirming Russia as a legitimate international power that will not allow the symbolic to undermine substance.

And what about Europe and Ukraine? Obviously, no one at Friday's so-called summit represented either side. Their representatives might insist on being present at the next meeting, if there is one. Will China as well? Let's not forget that China has been consistent in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. Might it be able to find the right combination of opportunities to move all sides to a lasting ceasefire?

Sadly, too many questions remain on the table. The man who loves to boast that he is a deal maker could not get his Russian counterpart to even agree to that. The war drags on. Humanity continues to suffer.

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