Ex-Trump Adviser Predicts Putin's Defeat at Alaska Summit

Robert O'Brien, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin will emerge as a 'loser' from his upcoming summit with Trump aimed at negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine. O'Brien argued that Putin's military invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, is a total failure as he has lost a million soldiers and made no territorial gains beyond the 2014 deal that allowed Russia to take Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk. Despite this, O'Brien noted that Trump will allow Putin to save face during the talks because of his gracious and charming demeanor. O'Brien also claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may not need to attend the Alaska summit since Trump has met with him privately on several occasions and positioned himself as a mediator seeking to end military deaths and resolve the conflict. The former adviser emphasized Trump's role as a peacemaker who wants to see the dispute resolved. However, O'Brien acknowledged that Zelensky will likely have a role in any final agreement.