US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have landed in Anchorage, Alaska, for their planned meeting on the war in Ukraine.
The two warmly shook hands after meeting on the red carpet that is laid out on the tarmac. The two descended from their official aircraft – at the same time – shortly past 11:00 am (local time).
The presidents soon entered, together, a waiting vehicle heading to the summit venue – the first moment the two leaders have had alone in years.
Minutes later, at US Joint Military Base Elmendorf-Richardson – where the two are expected to hold a press conference later today – Trump and Putin allowed reporters to get a peek at the pair sitting side by side on a stage against a dark blue backdrop sporting the words “Alaska 2025.”
Air Force One departed around 6:45 am (local time) from Washington, DC with Trump and a small delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy to Russia Steve Witkoff.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the meeting will be held in a three-on-three format, with Trump joined by Rubio and Witkoff – rejecting earlier Kremlin claims it would begin as a one-on-one before expanding to full delegations.
Rubio, Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will then take part in a subsequent meeting, according to Leavitt.
Speaking to reporters en route to Alaska, Trump said he looked forward to the talks, which could last hours and would most likely include economic discussions.
He added that although he welcomed the idea of strengthened business ties, ending the war in Ukraine is a precondition to realizing such talks.
“I think, you know, something’s going to come of it,” Trump said. “I noticed he’s bringing a lot of business people from Russia, and that’s good. I like that because they want to do business.”
Trump said earlier that he is planning a “second meeting” with Putin, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and officials from Europe to follow today’s highly anticipated summit.
“The more important meeting will be the second meeting that we’re having,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
“We’re going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we’ll bring some of the European leaders along, maybe not.“
Trump said he believes that both Zelensky and Putin are ready to make peace after years of war, adding that he was surprised at how hard it has been to end the invasion – which he originally claimed he could stop within 24 hours of taking office in January.
“We’ll see if they can get along,” he said. “I thought the easiest one would be this one. It’s actually the most difficult.”
The delegation representing Russia in Alaska on Friday will reportedly be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev.
The US president is expected to hold a press conference with the Russian leader before returning to the White House at 5:45 p.m. local time (4:45 a.m. Kyiv time).