16. Something Like Alaskanian Romance

The much-awaited meeting has happened without providing us any comforting news. 

Despite all my good wishes for its success I was pessimistic about its outcome from the day one. 

Unfortunately, my apprehension proved right.

Yes, finally, US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met on August 15, 2025 on the tarmac at Elmendorf-Richardson, a Cold War-era airbase outside Alaska’s capital, Anchorage on the Ukraine after speaking on the phone six times in the past.

The whole world was watching them coming out from their respective aero planes, with what looked like a genuine smile plastered over their faces, warmly shaking hands before entering “The Beast”, the presidential limousine. 

So, the starting point was well orchestrated and television watchers around the world had high hopes. At least I had when a TV anchor informed us that Putin greeted Trump with a “good morning, dear neighbour”. 

Those who don’t know should know about Alaska’s proximity to northeastern Russia.

After the three-hour long meeting during the brief news conference Putin was full of praise for the initiative Trump has undertaken, rephrasing what Trump had said about the possible peace settlement. He said what Trump wanted to listen.

“Today, President Trump was saying that had he been president back then, there would be no war, and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so. I can confirm that,” Putin said.

“In order to make the future peace settlement lasting and long term, we need to eliminate all the primary roots, the primary causes of that conflict, and we’ve said it multiple times, to consider all legitimate concerns of Russia,” Putin said.

“There were many, many points that we agreed on, most of them, I would say, a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway. So, there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” the US president said in his three minutes speech.

But despite the friendly atmosphere and comments like "very productive" and "mutually respectful" there was nothing to talk about.

To us, it looked just something like an Alaskanian romance between two old guys.

Because we don’t need ‘headway’ rather we want the war to end. 

Ukraine is very close to my heart. There, I have three wonderful friends. 

When the war broke out, overnight their lives changed.

One is at present in Poland. Her story is something that will make you wonder how a displacement changes the course of life.  Just think of it, she has her own apartment in Kyiv. 

When she feels lonely, which is often, she writes to me and her mails bleed my heart. 

I’m glad and assured because my friend is a brave woman. A very optimistic person. 

I’ve another Ukrainian friend from Kyiv; also, a US citizen she can live freely in any country. It is not a problem for her to change her place of residence still she is living in her flat in Kyiv. 

I love her fighting spirit - listening to her heart not her mind.

And my friend number three, a young girl in Kyiv, keeps feeding me whatever news and development at front she could gather on daily basis.

But today she was silent. 

No comment, no message, no news.

And I can feel her disappointment and pain.