This Combination Of Photos Shows Russian President Vladimir Putin Left In Moscow On May 9 2025 And President Donald Trump In Washington AP
Global Tensions Surge as Trump and Putin Schedule Alaska Summit; Israel’s Gaza Plan Draws Widespread Condemnation
A planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska have ignited a firestorm of international debate, with European leaders and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voicing deep concern.
The meeting, set for August 15, is aimed at brokering a peace deal in the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Trump’s suggestion of “swapping of territories” to end the conflict has been met with firm rejection from Ukraine, which insists it will not cede land to Russia.
Zelenskyy has slammed the idea of any deal being made without Kyiv’s direct involvement, calling such decisions “against peace” and “dead decisions” that will never work. This position is supported by a joint statement from the European Union and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the United Kingdom, which stresses that the path to peace “cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
The Kremlin has so far ignored a proposal for a trilateral summit that would include Zelenskyy. The choice of Alaska for the meeting is seen by some analysts as symbolic, given Russia sold the territory to the U.S. in 1867. Russia has also invited Trump for a reciprocal visit to Russian soil.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Israel’s government is facing significant domestic and international backlash over its latest plan to expand military operations and take full control of Gaza City. The decision, approved by the Israeli security cabinet, has reportedly created a deep divide with Israel’s military command, which has warned that a full takeover could endanger the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest the plan, demanding an end to the military campaign and the release of their loved ones.
Internationally, the plan has been met with widespread condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the move a “dangerous escalation” that risks worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian situation for the two million civilians trapped in the enclave.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with the UN reporting a significant increase in malnutrition-related deaths and a rise in cases of diseases like meningitis. The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights has also insisted that a complete military takeover of Gaza would be a violation of international law.
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