Diplomatic spectacle tests global reaction

A look at how Putin's Alaska meeting with Trump and Ukrainian reactions test diplomacy limits.

The world is behaving irrationally

Putin arrived at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska in a moment heavy with ceremony. His plane was escorted by four American fighter jets, he walked the red carpet beside Trump, and a B-2 bomber flew overhead. A banner reading Pursuing Peace hung nearby, framing the moment in stark contrast to years of fighting.

Ukrainian observers saw the display as political theater that could be read as a legitimisation of Russia's war. Ukrainian writer and analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko said the scene was unnecessary and should have been conducted in a more restrained way, without this level of respect. Donetsk resident Serhii Orlyk recalled his losses and said the spectacle felt unpleasant given the cost to civilians.

The Alaska moment shows how leaders use pomp to shape international opinion while conflicts continue. Ceremonial staging can create a powerful narrative that partly shadows the ongoing war on the ground.

It also tests the health of international ties. Allies may weigh the image against the risk of public backlash, especially in Ukraine where civilians bear the brunt of the war. The risk is that diplomacy turns into theater and facts on the ground do not get the attention they deserve.

Highlights

Diplomacy lives in the details, not just headlines.