President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a handshake on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska before departing together in Trumps presidential limousine known as the Beast for a high-stakes meeting to discuss the war in Ukraine.
To View Rumble Videos
Trump arrived in Alaska at about 10:20 a.m. local time, while Putins plane landed around 10:50 a.m. The two leaders descended their respective planes and walked a red carpet, where they greeted one another with a friendly handshake.
To View Social Media
To View Social Media
They spoke for about ten seconds before they walked down the red carpet as a B-2 stealth bomber, accompanied by fighter jets, flew over their heads.
To View Social Media
They posed for a photo oppurtunity before the press and then departed the tarmac together in Trumps presidential limousine for meetings at the Arctic Warrior Event Center.
To View Social Media
To View Social Media
The leaders did not take questions before the meeting got underway.
To View Social Media
This marks Putins first time on U.S. soil in a decade, with his last visit coming in 2015 at the United Nations in New York City. Fridays meeting is a major development in Trumps effort to bring a close to the war between Russia and Ukraine, something he has worked feverishly on while settling seven other global conflicts with ceasefires and peace agreements in the meantime.
Trump spoke with reporters during the flight to Alaska and emphasized that Russia will face economic consequences if he gets the sense that Putin is uninterested in making a deal.
You had said earlier this week that Putin would face severe consequences if you get the sense from him that hes not interested. What do you mean by that? a reporter asked.
To View Social Media
Economically severe. Yes, it will be very severe. Im not doing this for my health, okay, Trump said. I dont need it. Id like to focus on our country, but Im doing this to save a lot of lives. Yeah, very severe.
Trump said that land swaps would be part of the negotiations on Friday, but underscored that it is ultimately Ukraines decision.
[Territorial swaps will] be discussed, but Ive got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think theyll make a proper decision, he said. But Im not here to negotiate for Ukraine. Im here to get them at a table.
To View Social Media
Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasnt president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but hes not going to do it, he added.
