Members of the Russian delegation touched down in Alaska overnight for the Trump-Putin meeting set for this afternoon. President Putin is already prepared to head back to Russia’s Far East.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, part of the Russian delegation alongside President Vladimir Putin, arrived in Alaska sporting a Soviet (“CCCP”) sweatshirt—a clear nod to Cold War times. The meeting will happen at the Elmendorf-Richardson base close to Anchorage.
Reported by Russian state media, other key figures in the Russian delegation include Foreign Affairs Minister Lavrov, Ambassador to Washington Alexander Darkiev, President Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and others focused on U.S. educational investments.
Some Russian IL-96 jets were spotted at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport last night and this morning.
Putin is expected to arrive in Anchorage later today. As per the Kremlin, he flew overnight to Magadan Oblast in Russia’s Far East, near the Okomtsk Sea. He will handle various local engagements, including visiting businesses and social complexes and laying flowers. This visit commemorates the collaboration between the U.S. and Russia during World War II.
For the first time since 2019, this meeting marks a personal encounter between President Putin and Donald Trump. It’s also significant as it’s Putin’s first visit to the U.S. since 2015 and the first time a Russian president has come to Alaska.
Ushakov mentioned that the Trump-Putin conference is set to commence at 2:00 AM Moscow time, which is 8:00 PM in London, 3:00 PM Eastern time, and 11:00 AM in Alaska.
Both leaders are expected to focus on addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. President Trump aims for an immediate follow-up meeting that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Trump acting as a mediator, although Russia has yet to agree to this.
This week, Trump expressed his hope that this would be arranged promptly after his second meeting with Zelensky, which took place in Alaska. He anticipated a quick return home, while Zelensky’s recent public appearances in Europe become part of the narrative surrounding these negotiations.
There have been ongoing discussions suggesting Ukraine might concede parts of its territory in exchange for a ceasefire. Trump has indicated that this would be integrated into any peace agreement, but Zelensky remains cautious about such concessions.
Russia appears hopeful that it can officially establish military interests in occupied Ukrainian territories and limit Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
On the peace front, while both Russia and Ukraine express a desire to end the conflict, they fundamentally disagree on the terms, creating a contradiction in their narratives. As Trump prepares to negotiate, the dynamics have shifted significantly for both sides, making the diplomatic path feel more burdensome.
Ukraine insists negotiations can only start after a ceasefire, while Russia sees the ceasefire as a final step, indicating their willingness to continue both discussions and military actions. This has led Western observers, including European leaders and Zelensky, to accuse Russia of dragging out negotiations with no intention of achieving genuine peace.
Critics argue that Moscow’s actual strategy may involve prolonging talks to allow Russian forces to fortify their positions on the battlefield.
In the meantime, protests occurred outside the U.S. embassy in Kyiv and in Anchorage on Friday morning. Demonstrators in Kyiv opposed territorial concessions for a peace deal and called for the release of Ukrainian prisoners. In Anchorage, protesters displayed a lack of support for Trump collaborating with Putin, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with both leaders.
