Russia’s President Vladimir Putin landed in Anchorage, Alaska around four hours ago to engage in talks with US President Trump. The Russian President arrived with a delegation of businessmen and the negotiating delegation composed of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Policy Aide Yuri Ushakov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Head of the Russian Direct Investment Kirill Dmitriev.
US President Donald Trump’s delegation is composed of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Vice-President JD Vance. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also expected to join in a second round of talks focusing on economy after President Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine.
Putin was welcomed at the base with a red carpet and was treated to a show by US warplanes with a B-2 bomber flying over them. In another act of symbolism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wore a shirt with a CCCP logo on it for an interview before the talks.
Subsequently, following his arrival, Putin accompanied Trump in the presidential limo, known as The Beast. The pair then sat for a photo shoot with their delegations as journalists asked Putin questions but the session ended quickly with no answers given. The leaders began their talks around three hours ago and are expected to take a lunch break soon.
Protests took place in Anchorage by US citizens against Putin as he landed for the meeting.
Vladimir Putin is Anchorage, Alaska on the invitation of President Trump to pressure him to end the war in Ukraine. President Trump previously said that a land swap should take place to settle the war but Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky replied to this proposal by saying that Ukraine will not give any territorial concessions to Russia. European leaders supported Ukraine’s position and stated that Ukraine’s territorial integrity should be respected. Before the meeting started, President Trump said that any land concessions can only be decided by Ukraine.
The meeting also comes after President Trump postponed a second round of tariffs and sanctions to put more pressure on Russia. Russia is considering the meeting as a diplomatic victory.
President Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to give a press conference together soon.
Newsroom
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