The flyover of a B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-35 fighter jets marked the start of an unprecedented summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Alaska, where the two leaders shook hands before beginning negotiations on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The scene captured global attention as the two presidents brought together on US soil for the first time to discuss the terms of a possible peace agreement, amid heightened military presence and a climate of heightened international tension.
The US president stepped off Air Force One and applauded Putin's arrival. Putin walked across a red carpet to a stage with the words"Alaska 2025." Watched by military personnel in formation, the two leaders exchanged two handshakes before heading together to the presidential vehicle, amid the roar of strategic aircraft whose design harks back to the heights of the Cold War.
Elmendorf-Richardson, a strategic military enclave since the 20th century, reinforced the symbolism of the meeting with the display of aircraft such as the B-2 Spirit, which played a key role in the recent attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, and the modern F-22 and F-35, whose presence underscored the message of strength and vigilance from the United States. These systems were specifically developed to counter the Russian threat during decades of international rivalry.
As they arrived, reporters loudly asked, “President Putin, are you going to stop attacking civilians?” The Russian president, without responding, gestured with his hand to his ear, as the two leaders boarded the presidential limousine to head for their scheduled bilateral meetings.
According to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, the meeting, which was originally scheduled to be private, was eventually expanded to a three-person delegation format. The United States added Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Russia included its top diplomats. This decision reflects a more reserved stance by the Trump administration compared to its previous meetings with Putin, such as the one held in Helsinki in 2018.
The two heads of state are scheduled to report on the summit at a joint press conference. The New York Times reported that one of Trump's priorities is to explore a peace deal that would end the fighting on Ukrainian territory, opening the possibility of extending security guarantees to Ukraine in alliance with European countries, but outside the NATO umbrella.
The US president told the press his intention to allow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in future tripartite talks if negotiations progress. However, the Ukrainian representation, excluded in this initial instance, has expressed reluctance and concern, stressing that any agreement without kyiv's presence could upset the Western policy of"nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine."
In the background, substantial differences persist between Moscow and kyiv over the scope of a possible armistice. Russia is demanding the cession of territories and a halt to Western military supplies, points that both Ukraine and its allies have categorically rejected. Putin insists on a comprehensive pact that recognizes Russian progress and limits Ukraine's rapprochement with NATO, while human and material losses continue to mount along more than 1,000 kilometers of combat line.
The Elmendorf-Richardson base, located less than 5 kilometers from the maritime border with Russia, still serves as a defense against Russian air raids and points to ongoing bilateral tensions. The meeting is taking place under tight security, allowing the presidents to deliberate without pressure from protests and with key military advisers, including NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, present.
