What is happening at the Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska?

Anchorage (Alaska), Aug 16 (NationPress) Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump convened a significant meeting at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska, which has been ongoing for over an hour, according to media reports.

The discussions are being conducted in a three-on-three format; however, the two leaders began their dialogue on the airfield upon arriving in Alaska, as reported by TASS.

Both leaders exited their planes almost simultaneously and entered Trump’s Cadillac for a private chat en route to the negotiations.

Putin's aircraft touched down at the military base at 21:54 Moscow time (10:54 local time), TASS noted.

Trump’s “Air Force One” arrived shortly before.

The welcoming ceremony commenced at 22:10 Moscow time, with official discussions starting 15 minutes later with representatives from both delegations.

Earlier that day, preparations were finalized for Trump’s arrival on a red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where he is set to discuss the resolution of the war in Ukraine with Putin.

Despite the meeting being organized in a matter of days, it is proceeding with the rigorous protocol typically reserved for well-planned summits.

Every detail, from arrival timings to the designated parking slots for the aircraft, has been meticulously arranged.

Neither leader wishes to appear as though they are awaiting the other. Although Trump arrived first, he remained on board until Putin was prepared to greet him.

The red carpet, a customary symbol of respect, is flanked by a display of US military strength, with four F-22 Raptor fighter jets positioned alongside it.

No aspect of such events is left to chance.

Accompanying President Putin for these landmark discussions is Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov.

Russia’s state media reported that the officials attending the talks with the US delegation will include Foreign Minister Lavrov and aide Ushakov, as stated by the Kremlin.

This follows Washington's late announcement that the leaders would not be meeting in isolation.

Dressed in his signature red tie, Trump walked down the red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, awaiting Putin’s arrival.

Dressed in dark suits, both leaders shook hands firmly before walking side by side down the carpet, welcomed by cheers from onlookers gathered on the tarmac.

Trump saluted briefly as US military aircraft soared overhead.

The tarmac at Elmendorf Air Base showcased both leaders, with a red carpet arranged in an L-shape leading to a platform labeled “ALASKA 2025”. Lining the carpet were four F-22 Raptor jets, a striking visual considering the squadrons stationed at Elmendorf are assigned to intercept Russian planes approaching US airspace.

As per the White House, Trump engaged with Alaska's two US Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with Governor Mike Dunleavy.

Trump's one-on-one discussions with Putin during his first term were often shrouded in mystery, with only a translator present in the room, leaving uncertainty about the discussions.

The inclusion of two aides in Friday’s meeting — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff — could provide more clarity once the meeting concludes, especially if Russia presents a narrative differing from the US perspective.

The White House confirmed that Trump will not be alone during his meeting with Putin and will be joined by Rubio and Witkoff.

The lunch following the meeting will also feature Rubio, Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.