In the U.S., footage of American troops rolling out a red carpet for Vladimir Putin in Alaska sparks widespread criticism and debate on social media
Famous American blogger Jake Broe called the gesture a humiliation for the U.S.
“Trump literally had uniformed active duty soldiers on their hands and knees rolling out the red carpet for a genocidal dictator who has killed millions of people around the world the last 26 years. America has fallen,” he emphasized.
Commentators, meanwhile, were divided: some believe there is nothing humiliating about this and that it is standard diplomatic protocol, while others argue that the U.S. disgraced itself by allowing its soldiers to honor a dictator.
Meaghan Mobbs, daughter of Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, who now lives in Kyiv, also joined the discussion.
“Uniformed American soldiers should not have been used to lay out a red carpet for one of our main adversaries. Full stop. Horrible decision and there should be consequences for whomever made it,” she emphasized.
Most commentators said they agreed with her, though some criticized her.
In response to her post, one user wrote, “This is called respect. Incredible that a general’s daughter doesn’t understand this concept.” Megan replied, “I am the daughter of an American general, and we do not kneel before tyrants.”
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Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska: what we know
On the night of August 16, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a “3-on-3” summit in Anchorage, Alaska, lasting nearly three hours — their longest conversation to date. According to the U.S. leader, the meeting was “productive,” and they discussed many issues, but “they did not fully agree on everything,” so “no deal has been reached yet.”
The U.S. president said he will soon hold calls with NATO representatives, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others.
Trump also stated that the Alaska summit nearly produced an agreement, and a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin with his participation is now planned.
“Now it’s in Zelenskyy’s hands — whether he can reach an agreement. A meeting between Zelenskyy, Putin, and myself will be organized,” Trump said.
On the morning of August 16, Trump spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy, with several European leaders participating. During the call, Zelenskyy accepted Trump’s invitation to visit Washington this Monday, August 18.
Trump stated that after talks with Putin in Alaska and discussions with Zelenskyy and EU leaders, the parties concluded that the best way to end the war is to immediately sign a peace agreement, without a temporary ceasefire.
The leaders of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issued a joint statement following Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Source: Social media reacts to American troops laying red carpet for Putin