Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Alaska on Friday morning to thd embrace of a waiting U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of a summit that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.
This is the first time both Presidents would be meeting since Russia and Ukraine war broke out in 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict with Russia and recognising – if only informally – Russian Control over one-fifth of Ukraine.
Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps.
“I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I’m here to get them at a table,” he said.
Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today… I want the killing to stop.”
Shortly after arrive, they both rode in the same vehicle to the venue of the summit dubbed: “Alaska 2025”.
Donald Trump will be joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Putin is also expected to have senior aides at his side.
At the subsequent larger, bilateral meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and chief of staff Susie Wiles will also join Trump, Leavitt said.
Trump hopes a truce in the 3-1/2 year old war will bring peace to the region as well as bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.
For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy.
Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as “combative” and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.
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