Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have landed in Alaska for a highly awaited summit between the two nations to de-escalate U.S.-Russia tensions and continue peace negotiations over the conflict in Ukraine. The summit, which was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, is the first in-person meeting between the two presidents since Trump’s return to the White House for his second term.
Putin Touches Down First, Trump Close Behind
A Russian plane with President Putin on board landed in Anchorage late in the morning hours of Saturday, met with a red-carpet arrival in clear weather. Within minutes, Air Force One landed with President Trump on board, accompanied by senior aides such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
This time around, however, Trump will actually greet Putin at the foot of his plane before both of them step into a private one-on-one meeting. The talks themselves are anticipated to take six to seven hours much longer than they took during their 2018 Helsinki summit.
A Summit with Symbolism and Substance
The stage has been set for both ceremony and diplomacy, with the Russian and American flags standing guard beside two podiums and the words “Pursuing Peace” emblazoned on the wall. The motto is a message of hope on both sides amid profound divisions on Ukraine, economic sanctions, and larger world tensions.
On the agenda for the bilateral talks are Ukrainian ceasefire talks, possible economic cooperation, and airing of old “irritants” in U.S.-Russia relations.
Broadened U.S. Delegation Implies Thorough Approach
Originally described as a one-on-one, the session’s scope has expanded. Trump will be accompanied by Rubio and Witkoff to the opening session, then attended by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to a bilateral lunch.
Defense officials, such as Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. European Command leader Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, are also in attendance, highlighting the summit’s strategic significance.
Trump’s Priorities: “I Want a Ceasefire”
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said his top goal is a rapid Ukraine ceasefire. “I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today,” he told reporters. He declined to define summit “success” beyond that objective but confirmed territorial issues may be part of the discussion—though any decision would be for Ukraine to make.
The remarks echo his willingness to walk away from the summit if talks falter: “If it doesn’t go well, I’m going to head back home real fast,” Trump warned.
Russian Position and Expectations
Russia’s delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, has indicated openness to long talks but is adamant on its war-time terms. Putin’s team considers a number of American envoys—like Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg as “counterproductive,” leaving doubts about who will be seated at the negotiation table.
The Alaska summit has attracted global focus, with European partners and Ukraine anxiously awaiting indications of a diplomatic breakthrough. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who did not attend the summit, took to X where he said “we are counting on America” to establish a “path toward a just peace.”
Whether the marathon negotiations will produce tangible outcomes or not is yet to be seen, but the two leaders have come with the world’s attention squarely focused on Anchorage.
