US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met in Anchorage, Alaska, for a summit aimed at addressing the war in Ukraine. The encounter began with a warm handshake, smiles, and even a shared ride in the US presidential limousine, “The Beast.”
Originally planned as a one-on-one meeting, the talks expanded into a three-on-three format. Trump was joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin was accompanied by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.
The discussions are expected to last several hours, followed by a joint press conference. Both leaders have avoided answering shouted questions from reporters, including pointed inquiries about civilian deaths in Ukraine. Protests in support of Ukraine are taking place nearby.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the summit, has welcomed the dialogue but stressed that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations to ensure lasting peace. “Security guarantees are needed. Lasting peace is needed,” he said, adding that there is “no indication” Russia is ready to end the war.
The atmosphere between Trump and Putin appeared cordial, a stark contrast to Trump’s tense reception of Zelensky during the Ukrainian leader’s earlier visit to Washington. Putin, often isolated on the world stage, seemed buoyed by the red carpet welcome and the symbolic gesture of riding in Trump’s car rather than his own Russian-made limousine.
While Trump has publicly called for a ceasefire, analysts note that Putin has shown little sign of shifting from his long-term goal of dominating Ukraine. The summit’s slogan, “Pursuing Peace,” is prominently displayed at the venue, but whether the meeting will yield meaningful progress remains uncertain.
Behind closed doors, the leaders and their aides are holding intense discussions before a planned working lunch. Observers say that both Trump and Putin are likely to present the talks as a success, even if concrete outcomes are limited.