Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Chief Says "Putin Won the Information War"... Uncomfortable with U.S. Hospitality

"Zelensky Humiliated, Putin Given the Red Carpet"
The Worst-Case Territorial Concessions Were Avoided

Oleksandr Merezhko, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, commented on the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held in Alaska on the 15th (local time), stating, "Putin has won the information war."

Oleksandr Merezhko, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament. X (formerly Twitter)

According to The New York Times (NYT), Chairman Merezhko identified Putin's escape from diplomatic isolation as the biggest problem of the summit.

He pointed out that Putin appeared to be on equal footing with Trump. He added, "Putin used Trump to show that he is not isolated."

Chairman Merezhko is a member of Ukraine's ruling party, Servant of the People. He is known as the person who nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize immediately after Trump's election as U.S. president in November last year.

He unequivocally called the summit a "failure," criticizing that "Putin merely repeated his usual security rhetoric, and nothing changed." He emphasized that he ultimately concluded the war would continue.

The Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Independent also criticized the summit in an editorial, calling it "disgusting, shameful, and ultimately useless."

The outlet pointed out, "A bloodstained dictator and war criminal was given a lavish welcome on the 'land of freedom,'" and added, "Unlike his predecessor, who called Putin a murderer, Trump welcomed him like a king."

The outlet further noted that the warm reception for Putin stood in stark contrast to the hostile attitude President Trump showed toward Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House six months ago.

The outlet criticized, "The Ukrainian president was publicly humiliated, while the Russian president received a grand reception. Both scenes were disgraceful."

Bloomberg News also offered a sober assessment of the summit in an article titled "Dear Neighbor: A Red Carpet for Putin, No Ceasefire for Trump."

The news agency warned that although the situation most feared by Ukraine-such as territorial concessions-did not occur, this sense of relief might not last long.

President Zelensky has not yet made any statement regarding the U.S.-Russia summit.