The aftershocks of the Alaskan summit have revived a geopolitical triangle that can stabilize the Middle East. Despite controversy, the revival of U.S.–Russian relations are not a harbinger of Cold War regression, but an opportunity to solve the endless conflicts in the Middle East, including those that are tied to Israeli security and regional stability.
Putin’s positive response to the August summit, followed by Zelenskyy’s successful visit to the White House, signals a breakthrough in the Eastern Hemisphere and a potential domino effect to peaceful global relations. Trump immediately took to Fox News to remind Zelenskyy that an immediate security guarantee and end to the war can be reached, in exchange for unofficial land concessions and a rejection of NATO membership. Putin silently affirmed these remarks in his agreement to meet with Zelenskyy at a US-hosted bilateral meeting in the near future. Though extremely unpopular across Europe, pacifying Russia’s territorial desires may foster a diplomatic approach from Putin towards other key conflicts.
Immediately following the summit, both leaders delivered a joint press conference reassuring the audience of great progress made in regards to ending the Ukrainian war. Though no concrete deal has been reached, Putin recently touted continued constructive dialogue and an understanding that was absent during the Biden Administration.
President Trump’s renewed relationship with Putin should be seen as an opportunity to achieve American diplomatic interests in various conflicts, including Gaza and Syria. Realistically, Putin is in it for the long haul, and has already demonstrated passive willingness to provide a buffer between Israel and Syria in the midst of the Suwayda conflict, and accepted the American-run Zangezur corridor in the caucuses for the next 99 years that counters Iranian and Turkish dominance. All are high-profile interests for Israel and Syria, and it’s not a reach to assume that Putin would consider adding the United States to its extensive list of opportunistic partnerships. The US should continue its cautious optimism for a fair compromise in Ukraine that would deliver wins for the peace president in the Middle East, as renewed US-Russian diplomacy could diffuse the Israeli-Syrian tension, weaken Iranian influence, and place Turkey’s regional expansion on the backburner.
In Syria, for example, recent fighting between Sharaa’s government forces and the Druze in the south prompted Israeli strikes in Damascus and conflict zones, forcing the “former” terrorist group to call for Russian military presence as a buffer for a ceasefire. Admittedly, Russia’s buffer would offset the insanely complex American position in the region, which is awkwardly in the middle of backing Israel as an ally and historically propping up the SDF in the north; both recent adversaries of Sharaa’s new government in Syria, which Trump has also recently and very publicly supported.
Israel’s attempt to deliver aid to Suwayda a month ago was blocked by neighboring Jordan, forcing an airdrop instead, which serendipitously kickstarted a discussion on the feasibility of a humanitarian corridor between Syria and Israel, a small but mighty step towards Trump’s endless push for normalization. Russia’s strategic placement in the area could continue as a buffer for protection during its construction—and a US-mediated corridor could finally restart normalization talks. The plain hard truth? Partnership with Russia is the quickest and most peaceful way to end the Ukrainian and Syrian conflicts.
Additionally, partnering with Putin in the caucasus would help counter Turkish territorial ambitions and provide a mediator for Iranian discontent with our Zangezur corridor, a promising avenue for American economic growth and diplomacy in the hemisphere. The Twelve Day War’s artillery phase may have passed, but its transmutation into recent cyber warfare between Iran and Israel indicates the need for more diffusion, which is not impossible with Putin’s past attempts to persuade Iran on various issues.
As unpopular as the idea may be, cooperation with Russia through Trump-era means may be the key to finally achieving an end to relevant conflicts. In the medium-to-long term, it could create a needed humanitarian corridor in Syria, foster Israeli-Syrian backchannel diplomacy, contain Iran and Turkey without US military intervention, and de-escalation in Ukraine.
It’s time to retire Cold War-era animosity and accept Putin’s invitation to a diplomatic session in Moscow. Trump’s transactional diplomacy and a pragmatic US-Russian deal on Ukraine could deliver broader strategic progress for peace in the Middle East. Though it’s not guaranteed, formal rapprochement with Russia is certainly the next right step for both suffering civilians and the United States.
Lora Karch is a Middle East History and Peace Fellow with Young Voices and an independent analyst focused on national security and political issues in the Middle East and Europe. She works at The Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. and is passionate about individual liberties, fostering peace, and safeguarding legacies of ancient civilizations. Her work has appeared in The National Interest, The Libertarian Institute, Free the People, RealClearWorld, Times of Israel, and more. Follow her on X: @LoraKarch
