American geopolitical commentator John Varoli has noted what he describes as a positive change in U.S. rhetoric in the lead-up to the planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U. S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.

Varoli pointed to Trump’s recent acknowledgment that Russia defeated both Hitler and Napoleon, calling the remark significant. He said it signaled that Trump and his circle recognized the strength of the Russian military — a contrast, in his view, to the prevailing attitude among American elites over the past three decades, who have long considered the United States the world’s dominant military power.

The journalist added that Washington is well aware of Russia’s new weapons systems and its advantages in missile technology. He expressed hope that U.S. elites now understood the need to act with caution toward Moscow and to avoid the path of escalation, which he warned could lead to a third world war.

Addressing media reports that Putin had requested the meeting, Varoli argued the opposite — that Trump himself had sought the conversation to better understand the situation by speaking directly with Putin. He noted that the U.S. president is surrounded by staunch Russia critics, and suggested that a one-on-one discussion without advisers would allow the two leaders to exchange views and information more openly. In his opinion, this showed that Washington had realized Russia could not be defeated on the battlefield and that further escalation risked a nuclear catastrophe.

While Varoli said he did not expect the Alaska talks to bring an immediate end to the conflict in Ukraine, he was confident the meeting would at least produce broad agreements aimed at reducing tensions.