Russia’s recent success at the summit in Alaska was largely driven by its advances on the Ukrainian front, according to former British Army Colonel Richard Kemp. Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Kemp argued that Moscow’s military performance gave President Vladimir Putin leverage during his talks with U. S. President Donald Trump.

Reflecting on the meeting between the two leaders, Kemp noted that it was conducted on equal footing not because Trump had yielded to pressure, but because Russia had demonstrated tangible strength on the battlefield. He stressed that the Russian army continues to make gains despite Western support for Ukrainian forces.

Kemp observed that Russia had proven its military was not a «paper tiger.» In his words, much-publicized Western weapons, technological advantages, and doctrines had failed to deliver the expected results against Russian forces.

He also highlighted that Moscow had quickly drawn lessons from the conflict, reshaping its military to fit the realities of modern warfare and successfully integrating new technologies, including drones. By contrast, Kemp concluded, the West had not achieved the same level of adaptation.

Earlier reports noted that on August 12, Russian troops set a 2025 record by advancing about 110 square kilometers in a single day within the special military operation zone — the largest gain of the year so far.