As a kid, we'd hear songs not really knowing where they came from or what they might mean. They just somehow appeared on the old huge Zenith Console in the living. From I Want To Hold Your Hand to Theme from Exodus they sounded in the living room and gave a sort of color to it. One such song which later was discovered to be the theme song for a Jogn Wayne film, was North To Alaska. Typical Hollywood fare but the song was fun and energetic promising some kind of gold rush adventure. Now, the rush to Alaska star Putin and Trump in a high stakes poker game supposedly about a cease fire in Ukraine. I'm not so convinced.
The speculation admittedly by me too is that there is more than meets the eye here. A summit meeting of this rarity and magnitude is an opportunity for two quick minds who are also game players to have a powerful talk about other topics. One topic, a very speculative one, is the creation of a tunnel between the USA and Russia land masses under the Bearing Sea. That one really gets the mind spinning because it would be a geo change to trade never expected, a typical Trump wild card. Putin and Trump indeed have a lot of trade to discuss and that includes sanction removal. Any improvements along the trade line would not be beneficial to China who have become an important ally to Russia, and a big energy buyer. But these men at the top are naive. 40 years of lies doesn't easily get replaced with bear hugs. In fact the trust factor is in need of major repair. The fact that Putin is coming to US soil is interesting and I almost expect Trump to pull his North Korea stunt and walk over water to set foot in Russia to display his new found friendship with pal Putin. Don't get me wrong, these two powerful men aren't buddies but I do believe they have some mutual respect for those nukes in their back pockets.
Trade, sanctions, land concessions in Ukraine, honoring the USA mineral rights deal and maybe the tunnel are to be discussed. The world is awaiting any news from this meeting and barring a walk out and further distancing, almost any progress will be touted as miraculous. Keep in mind that Trump likes his moniker as “peace making President” so expect some spin in that direction. Putin on the other is a more calculating man and does not easily take his eye off the prize. the prize for him might involve a complete acquiescence to his many times stated criteria for a a cease fire. Surrender and retreat of Ukraine troops, NO NATO MEMEBRSHIP, new elections replacing Zelensky, continued de-Nazification and the new occupied lands being recognized as Russian territory. There are probably sub categories in his position but I think those are the biggies. Can he get such a big concession. I say yes, because Trump wants the war over and his filter is demands that winning be rewarded. Russia is winning the Ukraine war and can and will take all of Ukraine if the war continues. Odessa, then Kyiv probably seeing Zelensky go into exile to one his out of country mansions. An assassin's bullet will always follow him so he better have security from powerful friends in place.
I sure hope the translators are up to the job because there is no room for misunderstandings. Alaska was once the big gold rush's biggest promise land. Now it promises a different kind of gold…peace. Let's hope against hope that something good comes of this unique meeting. The World is watching!
Best,
Donn Marier
DM-Your Oen CFO