Luring Trump to Russia

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Vladimir Putin will land in the US today plotting how to lure Donald Trump to Russia.

Their summit in Alaska gives the Russian president his best chance to reset relations with Washington since he ordered the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Putin has already scored a diplomatic win with his first visit to US soil in a decade.

He made no concessions on the war before the American president agreed to the meeting. And he succeeded in sidelining Ukraine and its European allies.

Trump has said a second summit could take place quickly, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders may join.

While Trump is pushing for a ceasefire, he has also tempered expectations for the gathering by describing it as a "feel-out" exercise. The second meeting would be the one where Russia and Ukraine "make a deal," he said.

Yet the Kremlin wants Trump to visit Russia next. Zelenskiy and his European allies would find it all but impossible to reward the aggressor by going there, particularly if Putin continued to wage war.

That gives Putin an opportunity to tempt Trump with attractive joint projects at today's talks, ranging from cooperation on a new strategic-weapons accord to major business deals.

The hook would be to continue bilateral negotiations in Russia, while standing firm on his demands for territorial concessions from Ukraine.

Trump told Zelenskiy and European leaders this week that he won't negotiate away Ukrainian territory. He has threatened "very severe consequences" if Putin doesn't accept a truce but has walked back similar threats to help keep communication channels open in the past.

The risk for Ukraine and Europe is that Putin makes a sales pitch Trump will find hard to refuse — perhaps with the proviso that it's discussed on Russian turf.

It wouldn't be the first time the Kremlin leader has extended an invitation to Trump. Could this be the year it's accepted? — Anthony Halpin

WATCH: Bloomberg TV's Annmarie Hordern reports on what's at stake at the summit.

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