August 19, 2025

Former NHL goalie Dominik Hašek did not hold back his anger about the Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This meeting happened at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marking Putin’s first trip to the U.S. in over 10 years and his biggest public show in the West since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Although this event was supposed to open doors for talk, it quickly became a hot topic – but not for good reasons. Hašek, famous for speaking out against Russia’s war on Ukraine, blasted the event. On his X (Twitter) account, he wrote, “I will never forget in my life that on August 15, 2025, American soldiers rolled out the red carpet for the greatest criminal of the 21st century.” He was shocked and upset that Trump smiled, shook hands, and walked beside Putin, treating him with honor and respect. The whole welcome — complete with military salutes, a red carpet, and flyovers — was meant to show strong diplomacy but instead lit a fire of anger among many people. Despite the grand ceremony, the summit ended without any ceasefire or peace deals. This left many wondering if the fancy reception only made Moscow look stronger while ignoring the real pain in Ukraine. Hašek, a Czech hockey legend and Hall of Famer, has often spoken loudly about how the West is too calm and slow in dealing with Russia’s aggression. Calling Putin “the greatest criminal of the 21st century” showed how fed up he is with the idea of welcoming a man who caused so much suffering. This clash between flashy diplomacy and deep anger about war reminds us how complicated it is to balance respect in politics with moral truth.

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Tags: Dominik hašek, Alaska summit, Donald trump, Vladimir putin, Russia-ukraine war, Military welcome,