U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, initiating their long-awaited summit. The meeting, expected to last up to seven hours, marks the first in-person encounter between the two leaders since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago. The talks aim to address the ongoing conflict, though Trump has made it clear that he will not enter into any territorial concessions. His stance comes amid growing concerns from NATO allies, who have expressed distrust that any potential peace deal may favor Russia.
Trump, during his press conference, emphasized that he would wait for the outcomes of the talks before considering any economic deals with Moscow, including a potential minerals agreement. However, the implications of such a deal are uncertain, as it could bolster Russia’s economy. Both the U.S. and Russia have brought their top business negotiators, including U.S. Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Scott Lutnick, as well as Russian officials like Kirill Dmitriev and Anton Siluanov, highlighting the potential for trade discussions.
President Trump’s delegation included several high-ranking officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, while Putin was expected to be accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov also traveled to Anchorage, though his involvement in the talks remains unclear. Trump has promised to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders following the discussions. The meeting’s outcome remains uncertain, with no clear indication of whether the leaders will address the media after the talks.