Trump, Putin shake hands ahead of high-stakes talks
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands on a red carpet linking their two aircraft at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, as the world watched the start of a highly anticipated summit.
The two leaders, arriving separately on Friday, stepped onto the tarmac to a formal welcome, walking side by side along the crimson pathway that stretched from Air Force One and Putin’s Russian government jet, meeting precisely in the middle. Smiling and exchanging brief pleasantries, they paused for a carefully choreographed photo opportunity, a moment seized by global media.
But the diplomatic veneer was quickly punctured by sharp questions from reporters.
“President Putin, will you agree to a ceasefire?” one journalist shouted.
Another turned to Trump: “What is your message to President Putin today?”
The tone shifted further when a third reporter asked Putin directly: “Will you stop killing civilians in Ukraine?”
Neither leader responded. Without comment, Trump and Putin climbed into a waiting motorcade and departed together in the same vehicle, a rare gesture of apparent camaraderie between two of the world’s most powerful and polarising figures.
The summit, the first face-to-face meeting between the two since Trump’s return to the White House for his second term, comes at a critical juncture in the war in Ukraine, now in its third year and responsible for tens of thousands of deaths since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Putin’s presence on Western soil is itself significant. This marks his first trip to a NATO-allied country since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.
Originally, the agenda included a one-on-one meeting, but the White House confirmed last-minute changes, stating President Trump would be accompanied at all times by senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
“Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure full transparency, the President will engage with President Putin in the presence of his national security team,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier aboard Air Force One.
Formal talks are set to begin at 11:30 local time (19:30 GMT / 20:30 BST), beginning with discussions at the foot of Putin’s aircraft before moving to a secure facility for a working lunch with delegations. Key topics include potential ceasefire arrangements, prisoner swaps, and avenues for de-escalation — though Western analysts remain deeply sceptical of any meaningful breakthrough.
The choice of Alaska, the US state closest to Russia, adds symbolic weight, evoking Cold War-era summits and geographic proximity. The remote location also ensures tight security and minimal public protest.
Trump has repeatedly claimed he alone can “end the war in a day,” though he has provided no detailed plan. The Kremlin, meanwhile, insists its military objectives in Ukraine remain unchanged.
Allies in Europe and NATO have urged caution, warning that any deal brokered without Ukraine’s full involvement risks undermining its sovereignty and long-term security.
As the summit unfolds, the handshake on the red carpet may be remembered as a moment of theatre, but the world waits to see whether it marks the beginning of peace, or merely the performance of it.