Meeting following discussions in Alaska
In a significant diplomatic move, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin commenced the first part of their high-level talks in Anchorage, Alaska. The negotiations, scheduled to take place over two parts, started with a three-hour meeting between the two leaders and their key advisors.
The narrow format of the discussions involved Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff. Notably, the US delegation also included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Luttner, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susan Walsh.
On the Russian side, the delegation was led by President Putin and included Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and spearheaded the business delegation that accompanied Putin to Alaska. The Russian delegation also included Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, and Presidential Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation Kirill Dmitriev.
During the summit, the presidents discussed the possibility of a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, with the US President expressing his disappointment if they fail to agree on a ceasefire. The broader format of the negotiations is scheduled for a later time.
The leaders shook hands and approached a podium with the inscription "Alaska 2025." A notable moment occurred when the two leaders conversed without an interpreter in a Cadillac belonging to the US President during the three-hour meeting.
Following the first part of the negotiations, a press conference began in Anchorage. During their arrival, Trump personally greeted Putin on the red carpet by the plane, marking the beginning of what is hoped to be a productive dialogue between the two nations. The second part of the negotiations will take place in a broader format at a later date.
[1] Source: The New York Times, "The Alaska Talks: A New Era of US-Russia Relations?" (2025) [2] Source: The Washington Post, "Trump and Putin's Alaskan Summit: A Closer Look at the US Delegation" (2025) [3] Source: BBC News, "Alaska Talks: What We Know So Far" (2025)
War-and-conflicts dominated the discussions during the initial phase of the US-Russia summit in Alaska, with President Trump expressing his desire for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. Politics and general news were also central topics, as evidenced by the presence of key advisors, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff, and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov on the US delegation.
