The summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. local time, according to the US leader’s schedule released by the White House press pool.
Trump will depart for Anchorage from the White House at 6:45 a.m. EDT. He is expected to fly back at 5:45 p.m. local time.
The summit will take place at Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base in Anchorage. The main topic will be the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian delegation includes presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special presidential envoy for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries.
Three special planes from Russia have already landed in Alaska, including a plane carrying journalists from the Kremlin press pool. Dmitriev, Lavrov, Siluanov and Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev have arrived in Anchorage.
The US will also be represented by five delegates, but their identities are not yet known. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth admitted that he may take part in the upcoming meeting between the Russian and US presidents, but his presence depends on his schedule.
Before travelling to Alaska, Putin flew to Magadan. There, he is scheduled to visit an industrial enterprise and meet with the region’s governor, Sergei Nosov.
Comments from Europe and the US
The Russian-American summit in Alaska is already a huge victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin, regardless of the outcome of the meeting, senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Ryhor Nizhnikau told the New York Times.
“This is a huge victory for Putin, regardless of the outcome of the summit,” Nizhnikau said.
The New York Times also emphasises the importance of the summit, specifying that it will be “more than just a photo opportunity.” The publication notes that the summit, from which representatives of Ukraine were excluded, “has sown discord” in NATO.
