Photo: Drew Angerer / AFP / Scanpix/ LETA
At approximately 22:10 Moscow time, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump almost simultaneously exited their planes at Anchorage Airport, then met on a red carpet laid out directly on the runway. The American leader took the initiative first, greeting his Russian counterpart with applause, followed by an exchange of handshakes.
As reported by the TV channel *Dozhd*, one journalist loudly asked Putin, "When will you stop killing civilians?" but he pretended not to hear the remark. The two presidents then boarded Trump’s presidential Cadillac and left the airfield. According to the official schedule released by the White House, a private conversation between the leaders was not planned.
Once in the car without their entourages, Putin and Trump deviated from the previously agreed "three-on-three" negotiation format. As political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky noted in an interview with *Novaya-Europe*, this moment raised concerns among both American analysts and Trump’s own circle. The expert expressed skepticism about the possibility of reaching significant agreements by the end of the meeting.
"Trump himself has repeatedly emphasized that this is just the first step. His goal is to make the most positive impression on Putin, which aligns with his business approach," Preobrazhensky explained.
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
The summit was held under the slogan *Pursuing Peace*—corresponding banners adorned the press center. In addition to the heads of state, the negotiations included: from Russia—Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov; from the U.S.—Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
After three hours of talks, a joint press conference was held.
Putin described the dialogue as "constructive and substantive" without delving into specifics. The Russian leader emphasized that choosing Alaska as the meeting location was his initiative.
In Putin’s assessment, Russian-American relations had been going through an "extremely difficult period," reaching the "lowest point since the Cold War." Organizing the summit aimed to change this dynamic.
The Russian president stated his interest in ending the Ukrainian conflict, for which it is necessary to "eliminate the root causes of the crisis." At the same time, he acknowledged Ukraine’s right to receive security guarantees.
For his part, Trump noted that no agreement had been reached on the Ukrainian issue: "Unfortunately, no deal has been made."
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
However, the American leader called the talks "productive," highlighting "significant progress" and "real chances for peace." According to him, Putin, like himself, is interested in ending the military confrontation.
Trump promised to inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies about the content of the negotiations.
At the end, Putin asked in English, "Next time [we meet] in Moscow?" The American president responded evasively, citing the current impossibility of such a meeting.
The press conference lasted about 15 minutes, after which the leaders departed for their planes. A planned lunch between the delegations was canceled.
Later, in an interview with *Fox News*, Trump stated that reaching a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine depends on Volodymyr Zelensky: "We found common ground on many aspects. <…> Now it’s Zelensky’s turn to finalize the process. European countries should also join this process."
The American president urged Kyiv to sign an agreement while acknowledging the possibility of refusal. Details of the proposal were not disclosed. Trump particularly emphasized: "Russia is a powerful country, and they [Ukraine] are not."
According to Trump, preparations have begun for a possible meeting involving Putin, Zelensky, and himself. The date and location have yet to be determined.
Screenshot: Fox News
The American leader announced a temporary halt to sanctions against Russia and its trade partners (including China) due to "very successful" negotiations with Putin. The issue may be revisited in 2-3 weeks.
Trump claimed that the parties had moved closer to an agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine but did not specify their content.
He also reported that Russia had provided a list of a thousand prisoners of war to be returned to Ukraine.
"Russia must be reckoned with, given its significant nuclear potential," Trump stated.
According to the Kremlin, the talks were scheduled to begin at 11:30 local time (22:30 Moscow time), while the White House had announced a start time half an hour earlier. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov estimated the possible duration of the meeting at "at least 6-7 hours." According to the White House schedule, Trump’s departure for Washington was set for 04:45 Moscow time.
The original scenario envisioned a private conversation between the leaders, followed by the involvement of their delegations. As Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov explained, after the tête-à-tête, the negotiations were to transition to a "5-on-5" format: "Besides the presidents, there will be five participants from each side. Naturally, expert groups will also be present."
However, shortly before the start, the White House changed the format to "3-on-3": from the American side—Trump, Rubio, and Witkoff; from the Russian side—Putin, Ushakov, and Lavrov.
The working lunch was planned to include: from the U.S.—Rubio, Witkoff, Defense Secretary Pete Hagset, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; from Russia—Ushakov, Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev.
As reported by media, neither side was fully prepared for the talks. *Financial Times* noted Trump’s lack of qualified experts on Russia and Ukraine, while *The Washington Post* wrote about the Kremlin’s rushed preparations, forcing the usually meticulous Putin to work in an accelerated mode without a clear plan.
Putin made a stop in Magadan, where he visited the Omega-Si fish oil processing plant and laid flowers at the memorial to the heroes of the ALSIB air route before heading to the meeting site.
Screenshot: *Rossiya* TV channel
The other members of the Russian delegation arrived in advance. Sergey Lavrov drew particular attention by appearing in a sweatshirt with the word "USSR." While officials were accommodated in normal conditions, Russian journalists were given folding beds in a university hangar, separated by curtains, with provided blankets and pillows.
Local residents organized a rally in support of Ukraine, with 16 events planned in total. Participants protested against the "legitimization of war criminals" and insisted that "territorial sovereignty cannot be negotiated with external forces."
On the eve of the summit, Yulia Navalnaya called for a prisoner exchange, a proposal previously made by former *Novaya Gazeta* editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov.
The key topic of the negotiations was supposed to be the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. *Bloomberg* reported a possible agreement on a pause in airstrikes, *The Telegraph* on a ceasefire along the current front line, and *The Wall Street Journal* on Russia potentially retaining control of Donbas in exchange for withdrawing troops from other regions. Experts interviewed by *Novaya-Europe* were skeptical about the prospects of significant changes, believing that Putin was more interested in demonstrating a willingness to dialogue and maintaining contact with Trump.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at their meeting in Helsinki on July 16, 2018. Photo: Kremlin
Trump had previously warned of "serious consequences" if the talks failed and stated that business relations with Russia would not resume until the war in Ukraine ended. He emphasized his readiness to impose sanctions if Putin showed no interest in a settlement. The American leader also mentioned the possibility of discussing territorial issues, stressing that the final decision rests with Ukraine. Trump did not rule out another meeting involving the Ukrainian president.
On the eve of the summit, Trump held consultations with European leaders and Volodymyr Zelensky. After the talks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine was ready to discuss territorial issues but that "recognition of occupation is not up for discussion." Zelensky emphasized that matters of territorial integrity could not be decided without public involvement or in violation of the constitution. Trump himself assessed the negotiations positively.