Before the Anchorage summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the biggest fear for Ukraine was that the American and Russian presidents would emerge brandishing a “peace agreement”. Trump’s pre-summit talk of “land swaps” suggested that America might agree to Ukraine permanently ceding territory to Russia against the backdrop of a resumption of US-Russian business ties.

Trump, who has labeled himself the “president of peace,” believes he can make deals that have eluded his predecessors, showing simultaneously his acumen and his power.

President Trump expressed gratitude that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had floated him for a Nobel Peace Prize if he were able to successfully negotiate an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.