Beltway Insider: Trump/Putin Meet, No Deal, Ukraine/Euro Leaders, ICE, Strike Force, House Redistricting

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Category: Beltway Insider

Published on Saturday, 16 August 2025 19:28

Written by Janet Walker

President Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in what many had hoped would be a strong beginning to ending the nearly 42-month war, but ended early and fell short of meeting the objectives.

The President's job approval rating, according to Gallup featured in The New York Times for the period ending August 16, 2025, of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President remained constant at 37% and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as president remained constant at 58%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

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Trump Meets With Putin

President Donald Trump, in an effort to initiate the end of the Ukraine-Russian war, invited his counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin, to Anchorage, Alaska so the two leaders could meet and gain clarity on what would be necessary to end this violent, destructive, and unwinnable war.

The meeting was big on pomp, and Trump congenial, and usually diplomatic, greeted Mr. Putin with dignity and respect, even as he still remains expelled from all global governing organizations over his invasion of Ukraine. With Air Force One as a backdrop, and a red carpet on the tarmac, Trump waited as Putin exuberantly, with what appeared to be genuine friendliness, hurried to shake hands.

Media have reported the meeting began so well, that "In an apparently unscripted moment, Putin accepted a lift to the airbase in Trump's armored limousine instead of driving in his own Moscow-plated presidential car. As the vehicle pulled away, the cameras zoomed in on Putin sitting in the backseat and laughing," the BBC.com reported.

Home court advantage has always worked for Mr. Trump, whether it be ferrying Mr. Putin to the airbase the Presidential limousine allowed the two men, alone, to talk on issues that were not privileged to others and set the tone of acceptance or controlling the room from the Oval Office.

In the moments when the two, seated, spoke with media, the somewhat chaotic session had media hurling questions, including "Mr. Putin, will you commit to not killing anymore civilians," and Mr. Trump rolling his eyes, as if embarrassed by the poignancy of the questions.

The two leaders were not alone, as each brought a small team Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov. Also attending were Mr. Yuri Ushakov, Russian foreign policy aide, Mr. Andrei Belousov, Russian Defense Minister, Mr. Anton Siluanov, Russian Finance Minister, and Mr. Kirill Dmitriev, Special Envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation. Also on the U.S. team, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Special Envoy for Peace Missions, Scott Witkoff, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs. 

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Walks Away with No Deal

As the summit ended, it was clear no concrete deal would be proffered, and without Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance, a commitment to a ceasefire, was nearly impossible. President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Mr. Trump, Monday, August 18, in Washington to discuss the summit.

By the end of the summit Mr. Putin stated "that although an unspecified "agreement" had been reached, the "root causes" of the conflict had to be eliminated before peace could be achieved. . . .They include recognition of Russian sovereignty over the Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as well as Ukraine agreeing to demilitarisation, neutrality, no foreign military involvement and new elections. Essentially, they amount to capitulation – unacceptable to Kyiv, but clearly – even after three-and-a-half years of bloody conflict – still paramount to Moscow," the BBC.com reported.

So, for all the good will, diplomacy, congeniality and genuine respect, Mr. Trump was unable to persuade Mr. Putin that his view of the "root causes" of the war in Ukraine, lie in his own ambition and desire to return Russia to its pre-1990 size and strength. And more importantly his view of the world is outdated, and Russia will never return to the pre-1990 U.S.S.R., and those territories that were once under rule of the Soviet Union, are now independent states and will remain independent.

Ukraine's President Zelensky Issues Statement

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a statement outlining terms for a ceasefire. To read the statement is to understand the two leaders are at polar ends when it comes to negotiating terms for an end or ceasefire to the Ukraine-Russia war.

Zelensky introduced his support for a Trilateral Meeting, with the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. The immediate end to the killings and all battlefield war action must cease; release of all prisoners, military POWs, civilians, and children; maintaining sanctions on Russia; Ukraine must be present for all territorial discussions and negotiations, no issues central to Ukraine can be discussed with President Zelensky or his team present; and an Acknowledgement of European Support.

It is expected that Russia will increase air strikes in the coming days.

European Leaders Issue Statement

A joint statement was issued after the Putin-Trump summit cosigned by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finland President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President of the European Council Antonia Costa, and President of the European Commission President von der Leyen.

The foreign leaders indicated they were debriefed on the summit and said, "We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We welcome President Trump's statement that the US is prepared to give security guarantees. The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and NATO."

The leaders indicated they were willing to work with the Ukraine to bring about peace; that Ukraine must make decisions on its territories, and no border could be changed by force; as long as the killing continues, the leaders are prepared to maintain pressure on Russia; and Ukraine can count on Europe's unwavering support.

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Trump's Strike Force Plans

The Trump Administration has proposed creating a strike force, "Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force," comprised of National Guards troops, who would be on the ready, and able to be deployed within an hour of notification. The proposal has two units of 300 soldiers, stationed at military bases in Alabama and Arizona, one for the eastern half of the United States, and the other for the west.

While the details of the reaction force have yet to materialize in their exactness, the concept would call for the teams to be deployed on a moments notice to respond to civil unrest or other needs, including after natural disasters to avoid looting, and other widespread criminal actions perpetrated when first responders are immediately unavailable.

"The documents marked "pre-decisional," are comprehensive and contain extensive discussion about the potential societal implications of establishing such a program. They were compiled by National Guard officials and bear time stamps as recent as late July and early August. Fiscal 2027 is the earliest this program could be created and funded through the Pentagon's traditional budgetary process, the documents say, leaving unclear whether the initiative could begin sooner through an alternative funding source," reported The Washington Post.

As each state has a National Guard, federalizing troops in a special strike force unit could be met with challenges from governors who see the action as interfering with local leadership during times of catastrophic disaster or civil unrest, which blurs the chain of command. Other considerations would be deployment usage of the federalized strike force, would they be used only to protect federal buildings, squash actions that interfere with federal institutions, and would they be subject to local commanding officers.

The concerns over this strike force would need to be hammered out, and if they are activated the LA 2028 Olympics made be the first use of the team.

World News: Trump Fails to Move Russia and Ukraine Toward Peace

Coronavirus Total

At the order of the President of the United States, the U.S. no longer recognizes the value of The World Health Organization. The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens should receive at least one shot of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, annually.  The death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases continue each week, fewer are dying from the newer variants.

For the seven days ending August 16, 2025, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by the World Health Organization increased by 23,987 to 778,457,848. The total worldwide death toll increased by 271 to 7,099,375 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated July 27, 2025, from the World Health Organization).

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ICE Detains 7-year old NYC Student

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers arrested a seven year old New York City student and her mother and removed both to a detention center in Texas.

"The Ecuadorian mother of four, Martha, whose last name is withheld due to the precarity of her situation, lived in Jackson Heights with 19-year-old Manuel and the 7-year-old girl. Martha's two other children, a 21-year-old son, Kevin, and a 16-year-old daughter, came to the United States separately and were not required to attend the ICE check-in this week," Chalkbeat reported.

The New York City P.S. 89 Queens primary school student was the youngest child detained by ICE agents under the Trump Administration's second term. The mother and daughter have not been separated, although they are expected to be deported as Martha's asylum request was denied and her appeal was denied as her lawyer failed to represent her adequately and file the papers in a timely manner.

California Proposes Redistricting

President Trump's effort to create an overwhelming majority in the House of Representative through redistricting efforts in Texas, have been met with a challenge from California Democratic governor and potential 2028 presidential challenger, Gavin Newsom.

Governor Newsom unveiled a redistricting map this week, which would add five new seats to the House, virtually wiping out the efforts of Texas Governor Greg Abbot (R) to deliver a slam dunk house for the president. If Newsom's plan develops beyond the conceptional phrase, five additional democrat seats would create a democratic majority in the house, deconstructing the president's trifecta government and stopping all of his plans to push through, without obstacle, his agenda.

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he was pushing the plan to combat President Donald Trump's attempts to carve up districts in several red states in hopes of preserving Republicans' narrow control of the House after next year's midterm elections. When the California legislature returns Monday, Democrats will introduce measures to hold a special election in November to amend the state constitution to adopt the new map. Under the proposal, the state would alter its map only in response to other states and would resume using nonpartisan lines after the 2030 Census," The Washington Post reported.

As California is the nation's most populous state, it also has the largest number of house representatives. The proposal would change the democratic caucus from 43 of the current 52 total California state representatives to an expected 48 democratic house members.

For more information on President Donald Trump: Whitehouse.gov.

Sources: Various © Articles covered by Copyright protection.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a former member of the International Federation of Journalists.