New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- Alaska was a distant geography to most of us-until last Friday. Now, it is theatre. A stage for superpowers to feed their egos. Alaska was once Russian, but has been American since 1867.

most state holds symbolism as a reminder of the two countries being neighbours, no doubt, but its choice as a summit venue seemed calculated to flatter US President Donald Trump's peace ambitions, while giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a platform to play the statesman. Their 15 August meeting was portrayed as a serious attempt to end the Ukraine War, but it revealed itself as a show designed to massage Trump's ego that ended up showing Putin's ability to get his way.

Trump emerged from the Alaska summit to declare there was ...