Trump-Putin summit live updates: Trump and Putin ride alone together in Beast to high-stakes Alaska meeting over Ukraine
Russian and U.S. delegations began arriving in the city on Friday, with footage showing Trump boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before its departure. On Truth Social, Trump posted a blunt two-word warning: 'HIGH STAKES!!!'
Meanwhile, Russia's veteran foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, was spotted in Anchorage in a vintage USSR sweatshirt. He told reporters Moscow 'never plans ahead' – a remark that added to the uncertainty surrounding the talks.
Trump has vowed that the Russian president is 'not going to mess around with me' as he attempts to secure a ceasefire deal. He also floated the possibility of bringing in European leaders, including Ukraine 's Volodymyr Zelensky, for a second round of negotiations.
The White House said Friday's amended schedule consists of a three-on-three meeting between the two delegations, a bilateral lunch and an expanded meeting, and a joint press conference.
'Three-on-three' meeting underway between U.S. and Russia
President Donald Trump (C-R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (C-L), flanked by their interpreters, meet during a US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
They are joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the U.S. side, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov on the Russian side.
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:49
Trump and Putin arrive at meeting venue
The motorcade carrying President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at a base facility ahead of their anticipated meeting and a subsequent news conference.
There was a brief photo spray before the meeting.
The two leaders sat side by side in a room at the base.
They made no statements and answered no questions as reporters shouted queries.
The reporters were quickly ushered out of the room.
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:33
Watch moment Trump and Putin greet each other in Alaska
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:29
Trump and Putin ride together in back of 'The Beast'
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin each deplaned at 11:08 local time. The two leaders walked down the red carpets that had been rolled out to their respective planes and met where the carpets intersected, with Trump arriving at the spot first and clapping as Putin approached.
They shook hands, exchanged greetings, and then proceeded side by side to the riser, which is positioned about 50 feet from reporters.
The two leaders stepped onto the riser as a flyover of military aircraft, including B-2s and F-22s, passed overhead. They stood looking toward the press but did not respond to shouted questions. They shook hands again and stepped off the riser.
To great surprise, as they exited the podium, both leaders got into the back of the same limousine — 'The Beast.'
Both leaders were chatting with each other and smiling as they took their seats.
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:17
Trump and Putin greet each other and shake hands
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:14
Trump and Putin have exited their planes
President Donald Trump was the first to exit his plane, followed seconds later by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two leaders will now greet each other on the red carpet before the official welcome.
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:10
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:07
President Vladimir Putin's plane landed at roughly 10:50 a.m.
It came to a stop on the tarmac at 10:58 a.m.
Both President Donald Trump and Putin are expected to deplane, walk down the red carpet and meet near the riser for the official greeting.
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 20:02
Putin has landed
A Russian plane carrying Vladimir Putin has now landed at the airbase outside of Anchorage.
Oliver O'Connell15 August 2025 19:58
Zelensky hopes for 'strong position' from Trump at Putin meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his hope for a 'strong position from the U.S.' ahead of talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Speaking in a video address on Friday, Zelensky stated: 'Everyone wants an honest end to the war. Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to end the war, and we hope for a strong position from the U.S.'
The Ukrainian leader also stressed that Russia 'is still killing people' despite the upcoming negotiations.
He added: 'The war continues and it continues precisely because there is no order, nor any signals from Moscow that it is preparing to end this war.'
Watch his remarks below:
Oliver O'Connell
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