Anticipating Anchorage

Presidents Trump and Putin are meeting in Alaska today for highly anticipated peace talks.

Putin’s hoping to formalize Russia’s territorial gains, having seized roughly a fifth of Ukraine’s land (see map). Trump wants a ceasefire and described the bilateral meeting as “setting the table” for a follow-up with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy. 

Ahead of the summit, Zelenskyy and other European leaders had an “exceptionally constructive” video call with President Trump, agreeing to some principles for #47’s talk with Russia’s #4:

• Keep Ukraine at the table for follow-up talks.
• Don’t discuss peace terms (like land swaps) until Putin agrees to a ceasefire.
• Don’t budge on future security guarantees for Ukraine (like NATO membership).
• Ramp up economic pressure if Russia won’t make a deal.

Trump emerged from Wednesday’s call warning of “severe consequences” if Putin won’t make peace. 

CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Pray for the peaceful end to all conflicts worldwide, even as we wait for God’s kingdom to come in full—for the day when God’s reign of peace will settle every dispute and all nations will walk in His paths. 

“He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.” 
Micah 4:3 (CSB) (read full passage)