U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to try and find a way to end the fighting in Ukraine, but as CBC’s David Common explains, it won’t be easy to navigate Russia’s maximalist war goals.

Moscow

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to pursue expansive goals in Ukraine, aiming for both territorial acquisition and political influence. Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and seeks to formalize control over entire regions, including areas it has not fully captured, such as the heavily fortified 'Fortress Belt.'

Putin's objectives also extend to reshaping Ukraine's government to be more favorable to Moscow, under the guise of 'denazification.' Negotiations have been complicated by differing positions, with Ukraine refusing to cede territory and Russia unwilling to relinquish strategic areas. The potential involvement of the United States in negotiations, particularly through direct talks between Putin and President Trump, could impact the outcome, especially if American support for Ukraine is reduced.

Putin’s maximalist war goals in Ukraine

Russia's war on Ukraine has been costly. A million soldiers killed or injured. The country's deficit dangerously high. Its vital oil sector making ever less money. But in some ways Vladimir Putin is winning. President Trump's invitation to meet one-on-one ends Putin's isolation and puts talks where Putin has long wanted them with no other European leader at the table, not even Ukraine's. He's getting a one-on-one meeting with the President of the United States. What does that say about the situation? The situation suggests that the Russians are doing rather well despite their odds against them. Putin's own goals which the Kremlin reiterated before the summit have not really changed. He wants control not just of land but of politics. Let's start with territory. Wars often end with borders drawn on land soldiers have already taken. Russia controls about 20 percent of Ukraine now. Portions of these four Ukrainian regions. But Putin wants any deal to include every part of those regions. Even territory Russian soldiers have been unable to seize by force. That includes the 50-kilometer stretch known as the Fortress Belt. Ukraine has poured resources into making this strip impenetrable to Russian forces. So Putin wants any negotiated deal to make that Fortress Belt part of Russia. And that would remove a major obstacle should Russian forces at some point in the future decide they want to invade what is left of Ukraine. Makes it a lot easier for them to do that and they have shown time and time again a willingness to break ceasefires or peace deals to go back into the country. So we're at the point of negotiations now where the Russians are trying to put the Ukrainians into a position where they have to agree to a ceasefire. It's an armistice of some sort and then they agree to a peace deal in which they are beholden to Russia's interest to stick with it. President Trump has spoken of land being swapped in any deal. Ukraine has rejected giving up territory. But would Russia be any different? Trump has floated Russia surrendering seaside land that it currently holds. That is presumably here near the Sea of Azov. Problem is it's the strategic gateway to Crimea which Russia seized from Ukraine by force back in 2014. Giving up the land leading up to it would be tantamount to giving up the peninsula. In short, it's not going to happen. Another key Kremlin demand has been what they call the denazification of Ukraine. So what does that mean? Well to many observers here in the West it's about changing the democratically elected government in Ukraine. Getting rid of them and replacing the government instead with one friendlier to Moscow. Friendlier to Putin. That would allow Putin to have his way without having to use force. Russia has what are called maximalist goals. It wants everything in return for ending its fight. Ukraine wants them to leave and give back the land they've seized. With such opposing views what happens next? Well Trump has repeatedly threatened Russia with huge sanctions but always backed away. Russia's economy is hurting but it's still so much bigger in every way than Ukraine. It can likely outlast them. They keep reminding everybody they have the advantage on the battlefield. They are pressing it today. They will press it tomorrow unless things go badly but they're not going badly. What is the risk to the Ukrainians if Trump hears Putin believes his story and moves forward with the Putin plan without Ukraine having a say and Ukraine then saying no we can't accept territorial concessions? Yeah so they don't and they keep fighting. That's really the answer and they would fight with European support and the Americans would if Trump would feel frustrated he'd walk away. He said that he could walk away so it depends on his attitude. If Trump believes that Ukraine is the barrier to a ceasefire he could stop American weapons from ending up in Ukraine and that would eventually cripple their fight to save themselves.

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U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Putin’s maximalist war goals in Ukraine

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Ukraine Invasion