The Trump-Putin encounter opening tonight at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is less a photo-op than the first real test of whether Washington can still co-shape Europe’s security order. For the first time since 2019, the two presidents sit alone while artillery still pounds Kharkiv and Russia hints at nuclear-arms talks. Markets smell détente—Brent futures slipped 0.4 % on the headline—but Ukraine watches 500,000 war dead translate into bargaining chips. (reuters.com)

History cautions. At Yalta 1945 great-power horse-trading froze Eastern Europe for half a century; at Reykjavik 1986, summitry almost rewrote the nuclear rulebook. Today’s asymmetry is starker: Putin needs sanctions relief and time, Trump needs a “deal” before the 2026 mid-terms. Excluding Kyiv and EU leaders mirrors 1938’s Munich dynamic, rewarding aggression while calling it realism. (ft.com, apnews.com)

Yet a narrow ceasefire could still buy lives if tied to verifiable troop withdrawals and a monitored border—conditions absent from the leaked draft. Unless Ukraine is formally at the table, this summit risks cementing spheres of influence, not ending war. As historian Timothy Snyder warns, “Peace without justice is just a pause between wars.” —Timothy Snyder, 2023.

The Gist AI Editor

Market Jitters Over Alaska Summit

Global markets are showing signs of apprehension as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin convene in Alaska for high-stakes peace talks concerning the Ukraine war (Strait Times). The uncertainty surrounding the summit’s outcome has contributed to a risk-off sentiment among investors. Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for Southeast Asian markets, reflected this anxiety, closing down 0.6% at 4,230.53 (Strait Times). This downturn, where declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones 302 to 233, suggests that investors are reducing their exposure to equities pending clarity from the geopolitical discussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited, stated his country “is counting on America” (Politico.eu).

Berkshire Shifts Portfolio

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has adjusted its equity holdings, signaling a potential shift in its long-term strategy (WSJ). The conglomerate has trimmed its significant stake in Apple, though the tech giant remains its largest single stock investment. Simultaneously, Berkshire has initiated a new position in UnitedHealth, a major player in the U.S. healthcare industry. This move could indicate a more defensive posture, reallocating capital from the high-flying tech sector, which has faced increased regulatory scrutiny, towards the more stable and regulated healthcare market. Such portfolio adjustments by a respected investor like Buffett are often interpreted by the wider market as a bellwether for economic trends.

Authoritarianism on the Rise

Turkey has broadened its crackdown on political opposition, with Turkish authorities detaining an Istanbul district mayor and approximately 40 other officials (Politico.eu). This action represents a further consolidation of power and an erosion of democratic norms, creating an unpredictable environment for international investment and diplomatic relations. In Syria, the new Islamist-led government is facing a petition for citizenship from foreign fighters who helped overthrow the Assad regime (Strait Times). This development raises complex questions about sovereignty, security, and the future political landscape of the nation, potentially creating instability in the region.

New Leadership, New Policies in Indonesia

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has outlined a decisive policy agenda focused on tackling corruption and enhancing social welfare (Strait Times). His administration intends to crack down on illegal mining and oil palm plantations, which have long been sources of illicit revenue and environmental degradation. Additionally, he plans to accelerate a free-meal program that has already reached around 20 million people. From a free-market perspective, while the anti-corruption measures could improve the business climate, the expansion of state-funded social programs warrants scrutiny for its long-term fiscal impact and potential to create dependency.

Stay tuned for the next Gist—your edge in a shifting world.

Foreign Islamists petition Syrian state for citizenship
— Strait Times

Singapore shares fall again on US inflation worries, Trump-Putin peace talks; STI down 0.6%
— Strait Times

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Further Pares Stake in Apple, Adds UnitedHealth Position
— Wall Street Journal

President Prabowo aims to go after illegal mining, oil palm plantations; speed up free-meal scheme
— Strait Times

Sergey Lavrov’s Alaska outfit hints at Soviet nostalgia
— Politico.Eu

Ukraine ‘is counting on America,’ Zelenskyy tells Trump before ‘high stakes’ summit
— Politico.Eu

Alaskan Overture, Ukrainian Blood

As the US and Russian presidents prepare for a high-stakes summit in Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered a stark reality check. He asserted that Russia continues its deadly attacks, showing no genuine intent to end the war, stating they are “killing even on the day of negotiations” (ANSA). This challenges the summit’s premise before it even begins. For Europe, this serves as a potent reminder that diplomatic overtures with authoritarian regimes often clash with brutal facts on the ground. The key takeaway is the deep-seated skepticism about Moscow’s reliability as a negotiating partner, reinforcing the view that peace can only be secured from a position of strength, not wishful thinking.

Regulators Hit the Brakes

A clash over technology and control has erupted in professional cycling. The sport’s governing body, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), suspended several teams from the Tour de Romandie just before its start. The dispute centres on the teams’ refusal to install a new, mandatory GPS safety system being tested by the federation (ZDF). This incident is more than a sports squabble; it’s a microcosm of the friction between top-down regulation and the operational autonomy of private entities. It raises a classic question: does mandated innovation, enforced by a central authority, truly serve the interests of the participants, or does it become another layer of bureaucratic control?

Catch the next Gist for the continent’s moving pieces.

Vier Jahre Taliban – “Leben ohne Freiheit”
— Zdf

« En Serbie, les plénums étudiants apparaissent comme des lieux de respiration civique »
— Lemonde

India: Can solar-powered cold storage save crops in Bihar?
— Dw

Der Ukraine-Krieg im Zeitraffer
— Zdf

Radteams wegen GPS-Streit mit UCI suspendiert
— Zdf

Svezia, un morto nella sparatoria, probabile conflitto tra gang
— Ansa