Also Trump had to hear some uncomfortable questions at Alaska
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Friday for Alaska for an official visit, accompanied by US President Donald Trump. However, what seemed to be a normal diplomatic meeting quickly became a moment of tension when journalists at the airport began to launch difficult issues to both leaders.
Among several questions one of the reporters asked Putin if “he would stop killing civilians.” The question caused the Russian President to point to the ear and shrugged in response.
When questioned directly if a ceasefire would accept, the Russian leader gave no answer, merely a gesture of indifference, while Trump, beside him, tried to divert the focus from the most delicate questions.
Contrary to what happens when it gathers with world leaders, whether in the oval room or on trips abroad, when it is always much to say when the meetings start, this Friday in Alaska was different. While the two presidents were sitting in the joint base room Elmendorf-Richardson, they remained silent as the chambers registered the moment. Neither made the initial comments.
“You can reach an agreement with him [Putin]? “Asked a reporter. Trump didn’t answer.
After a moment, Trump dismissed the press. “Thank you very much to everyone,” he said.
Moreover, the meeting alone provided for in Alaska among US presidents Donald Trump and Russian, Vladimir Putin, did not happen and the two leaders were accompanied by other members of their delegations. Contrary to what had predicted earlier this week, US presidency spokesman Karoline Leavitt told reporters aboard the Air Force One plane, who was carrying Trump to Alaska, that the meeting will be extended to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witcoff.
The reason for the change in relation to the announced program has not yet been disclosed, and the names of the Russian leaders who will accompany Putin in the first meeting of the summit was not disclosed.
After the bilateral part, the delegations will meet for lunch, which, from the US part, in addition to Rubio and Witcoff, also foresees the presence of Treasury Secretaries, Scott Bessent, Commerce, Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth, and White House leader’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
Donald Trump was the first to reach the Elmendorf-Richardson air base on the outskirts of Anchorage, where he will meet with the Russian homologist for a summit focused on the conflict in Ukraine, but should also address bilateral issues and the main themes of the international agenda.
Around 11:00 pm local (20:00 in Lisbon), Putin landed at the same location for his return to a major diplomatic stage after more than three years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent issuance of a detention warrant of the International Criminal Court against the Kremlin leader.
