Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet at Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov emerged from his vehicle wearing a Soviet Union sweatshirt. Trump is on Air Force One. What is Putin doing while waiting for Trump? Zelenskyy's latest statement. Here are the latest developments...
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska. You can follow the developments on milliyet.com.tr.
WE TRANSFER MOMENTUM
August 15, 2025
'I WANT TO SEE A CERTAINTY'
President Trump stated that he was on his way to meet with Putin and that he thought the meeting would go well.
Addressing the possibility of a disagreement during the meeting, Trump said,"If things don't go well, I'll go home quickly. I'll walk away."
Trump said,"I want to see a ceasefire today. If there is no ceasefire, I will not be happy."
August 15, 2025
"I WILL NOT NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF UKRAINE"
"I would like to focus on our country, but I'm doing this to save a lot of lives," Trump told reporters on the plane.
Trump also said,"I am not here to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."
August 15, 2025
THEY WILL MEET ONE-ON-ONE FIRST
According to the announcement made by Russian Vice President Yuri Ushakov, the talks will begin with a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, followed by inter-delegation meetings with the participation of five representatives from each side.
The Russian delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) President Kirill Dmitriyev. The US delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
August 15, 2025
HOW MUCH DID RUSSIA SELL ALASKA TO THE USA?
Alaska was discovered by Russia in 1732 and sold to the United States by Tsarist Russia in 1867. This gives Alaska's position at the top of the historical summit another meaning.
According to historical records, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. The total area acquired was 1,518,800 square kilometers. This means the United States paid approximately 1.92 cents per acre for Alaska. $1 in 1867 is equivalent to approximately $21.72 in 2025. $7.2 million in 1867 is equivalent to approximately $154 million today, and the 1.92 cents paid per acre in 1867 is equivalent to approximately 41.7 cents in 2025 dollars.
August 15, 2025
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS CLAIM
The British press has made a striking claim. According to The Telegraph, US President Donald Trump plans to offer Russian President Vladimir Putin access to rare earths to persuade him to end the war in Ukraine.
The report claims that Trump's proposals for the talks include granting access to natural resources in Alaska and lifting some US sanctions on Russia's aviation sector.
According to the report, Russia is considering granting access to rare earth elements found in Ukraine's occupied territories. Ukraine holds approximately 10% of the world's lithium reserves, and the two largest deposits of these reserves, which are critical for battery production, are currently located in Russian-controlled territory. Trump has previously mentioned the possibility of a"territory swap" between Ukraine and Russia, but has not provided details on which areas the swap would cover.
August 15, 2025
Zelenskyy: We trust America
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a last-minute statement, asked US President Donald Trump to persuade Russia to stop its invasion during a high-risk summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
"It's time to end the war and the necessary steps should be taken by Russia. We trust America," Zelenskiy wrote on his X account.
August 15, 2025
SWEATSHIRT WITH SOVIET UNION PRINTING
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Alaska for the summit wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words"CCCP" (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR). The civilian outfit Lavrov wore before the summit went viral on social media and was interpreted as a message to the United States.
The CCCP symbolizes the Soviet Union, which existed from 1922 to 1991. This period marked the height of the Cold War and the ideological rivalry between the US and the USSR. Lavrov's choice of this sweatshirt is also considered a reference to Russia's global influence during the Cold War.
At its greatest extent (1922–1991), the Soviet Union's borders covered an area of approximately 22.4 million square kilometers. The United States' area is approximately 9.8 million square kilometers. The current Russian Federation's area is approximately 17.1 million square kilometers.
August 15, 2025
TRUMP WILL WELCOME
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Anchorage hours before the meeting, while US President Donald Trump departed for the meeting, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. Alaska time (10:30 p.m. Turkish time). According to Russian media, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced that Trump will arrive at the military base in Anchorage before Putin and personally greet the Russian leader. Kremlin sources also said that Trump will greet Putin as his plane lands. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said,"We expect the President (Putin) to land at exactly 11:00 a.m. local time (10:00 p.m. Turkish time). President Trump will greet him on the plane."
The mausoleum near the Elmenorf-Richardson military base, where the summit will be held, is also important as a reminder of the common struggle of the peoples of the two countries in World War II.
