The Trump-Putin Summit: Issues At Stake

by Stephen Sestanovich
Four issues probable to possess got a prominent house at the Helsinki summit adjacent calendar week betwixt Donald J. Trump in addition to Vladimir Putin are election meddling, Ukraine, Syria, in addition to nuclear arms control. Russian in addition to U.S. officials possess got made piddling progress inwards reaching agreements on whatever of them. But in that place is ground to mean value ane or both sides volition approach each of these issues inwards a novel way. U.S. election meddling. At 2 previous meetings, in addition to inwards countless populace statements, Trump in addition to Putin possess got dismissed this issue, though doing in addition to so has non served them well. Saying that he accepts Putin’s denials hurts Trump’s credibility in addition to makes it harder to motility the human relationship inwards the administration he wants. That’s why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has promised Congress that the president volition bring a rigid stand upwards on the issue. For his part, Putin has suggested that those involved inwards meddling may possess got acted independently of the Russian state. Real understanding is unlikely in addition to politically risky for Trump, but await for novel positioning past times both sides.


Ukraine: a path to sanctions relief? For iii years, give-and-take of this result revolved roughly the 2015 so-called Minsk II agreement, which calls for the withdrawal of unusual state of war machine forces from eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian command of its edge alongside Russia, in addition to increased autonomy for separatist areas. In the past times year, Russian proposals to introduce United Nations peacekeepers possess got commanded attention, although Western negotiators criticize them equally (so far) unserious. Even a provisional understanding at Helsinki on peacekeepers would last the biggest negotiating breakthrough inwards years—and could outset a ground over express sanctions relief.

Syria: a means to utter close Iran. Deconfliction inwards Syria’s civil war, or state of war machine coordination betwixt the USA in addition to Russian Federation to rest out of each other’s way, has been a success of sorts, but in that place is instantly clear U.S. involvement inwards elevating Syrian Arab Republic equally a topic of presidential dialogue. The reason: Iran. U.S. officials possess got worried close the danger of novel conflict inwards Syrian Arab Republic betwixt State of Israel in addition to Islamic Republic of Iran or Iran-backed forces. The White House equally good seeks increased Russian petroleum production—a motility on which Russian Federation in addition to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) possess got already agreed—the ameliorate to confine Iranian export earnings. Putting constraints on Islamic Republic of Iran could last the exceed Helsinki priority of Trump in addition to his advisors.

Arms control: an slow win? Both presidents possess got said late that the arms race betwixt the 2 countries requires their attention. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 relatively slow pace would last to extend the New START treaty, which is laid to expire inwards 2021, for some other 5 years. Yet a serial of hurdles could block progress: The treaty was negotiated nether Barack Obama (likely a negative for Trump); National Security Advisor John Bolton dislikes all arms agreements; activity on New START would enhance questions inwards the U.S. Congress close Russian violations of some other arms agreement, the INF Treaty; in addition to Russian Federation would desire the USA to pose missile defence forcefulness systems deployed inwards Eastern Europe on the table. Cold War–era negotiations, which bundled together multiple issues, could furnish a model for follow-on talks.

Without progress on ane or to a greater extent than of these issues, the certain-to-be-friendly atmosphere inwards Helsinki volition last seen equally a bogus photograph op. But existent understanding volition last difficult, inwards purpose because these issues touching on the interests of many other parties. Both presidents may thence possess got to settle for farther rounds of ministerial-level discussion.
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