Trump–Putin Summit Sparks Washington Backlash as Russia Exploits Crypto to Evade Sanctions

Donald Trump is facing intense political scrutiny following his high-profile meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska — a three-hour session that concluded without a ceasefire, new sanctions, or any concrete results.

Instead of pushing for decisive action, Trump praised his “fantastic relationship” with the Russian leader, even personally chauffeuring him in a private vehicle, all while the conflict in Ukraine continues unabated.

🔥 Capitol Hill Responds Critically
The reaction from lawmakers was swift and pointed:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) called for a ceasefire “before Christmas” but admitted that Trump achieved little progress.

Bill O’Reilly criticized the summit’s lack of tangible outcomes, urging Trump to “increase economic pressure” on Moscow.

Sen. Jack Reed (D) condemned the summit’s tone, labeling the warm reception and vague statements as “reckless diplomacy.”

Even some Republican allies expressed concern that failing to announce new sanctions sends a troubling signal to both U.S. partners and adversaries.

🕵️‍♂️ Meanwhile: Russia Turns to Crypto
As the summit unfolded, reports emerged that Russia is intensifying efforts to bypass U.S. sanctions using cryptocurrency.

Chainalysis findings highlight:

A ruble-pegged token, A7A5, has processed over $51.1 billion in transactions.

Activity trends suggest the token is primarily used by businesses, with sharp declines on weekends.

The sanctioned exchange Garantex rebranded as Grinex in 2024 to continue operations.

The token’s issuer, Old Vector, backed by the sanctioned Russian state bank Promsvyazbank, was recently hit with additional U.S. Treasury sanctions.

Experts view this as a strategic move by Moscow to build a parallel financial system resilient to Western restrictions.

🌍 Bottom Line
While Trump hailed the Alaska summit as a success, critics argue that Putin came away emboldened — gaining international legitimacy without making concessions — even as Russia quietly expands its sanctions-resistant crypto infrastructure.