President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin met on Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage for high-stakes talks on the war in Ukraine, the first visit by a Russian leader to the United States in a decade.
The two leaders exchanged a handshake on a red carpet beside their aircraft before travelling together in the U.S. presidential limousine to the meeting venue on the base.
The choreography has drawn attention as much as the substance. The tarmac greeting and shared ride in “the Beast” provided images more associated with a ceremonial visit than a working session, even as the White House framed the objective as securing a rapid ceasefire. Live coverage showed the pair entering the armoured car after the arrival ceremony, ahead of closed-door talks.
The summit follows months of direct contact between the two leaders. Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has held at least six phone calls with Mr Putin, by his own account and contemporary reporting, but without a breakthrough on halting Russian strikes. In the run-up to the meeting, Mr Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Moscow blocks progress and said he would “walk” if talks stall.
Friday’s format shifted from a planned one-on-one to a three-on-three. On the U.S. side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff joined the President; Russia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. An expanded session and working lunch were scheduled to follow. Reporters were briefly allowed in for pool footage before being escorted out.
Ukraine is not at the table. Kyiv has said it will not accept territorial concessions and has pressed for any agreement to be negotiated with Ukraine’s direct participation. European leaders have voiced similar concerns and outlined red lines in calls with Washington. Mr Trump has floated a follow-up meeting involving President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if today’s talks show progress, adding that decisions about territory are Ukraine’s to make.
The stated U.S. aim is an “immediate” ceasefire as a first step, with subsequent discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine and the wider European security architecture. Moscow has signalled that its war aims remain unchanged, even as it pursues broader dialogue on sanctions and economic issues. Mr Trump has linked any future U.S.–Russia commercial ties to movement towards peace, while warning of additional economic measures if talks collapse.
Symbolism around the venue was notable. The meeting at a U.S. air base—punctuated by military flyovers—offered a reminder of the Cold War heritage of Alaska as a forward operating location for monitoring Russia. The optics of a warm greeting and a joint limousine ride, however, prompted commentary that the summit marked a public end to the diplomatic freeze of recent years. For the Kremlin, it is Mr Putin’s first appearance on U.S. soil since 2015, underscoring the encounter’s profile.
Market and security watchers see several immediate tests. First, whether the leaders announce a verifiable ceasefire framework with timelines and monitoring. Second, whether any sanctions relief is discussed or conditioned on battlefield de-escalation and prisoner exchanges. Third, whether a follow-on format is agreed that includes Ukraine and key European allies. U.S. officials have said they are seeking “rapid” cessation of hostilities; the Kremlin has indicated the talks could run six to seven hours. A news conference is expected afterwards.
The meeting takes place against an active battlefield. Ukrainian officials reported continuing Russian strikes in the days before the summit, while allied governments cautioned against any settlement that rewards aggression. Mr Trump said ahead of departure that he wants a ceasefire “today”, while also stressing that ultimate decisions rest with Kyiv.
