By Anjali Sharma
Washington – US President Donald Trump and the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held summit in Anchorage, Alaska to discuss Ukraine war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and CIA director John Ratcliffe also accompanied the US President as he look to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, media reported.
Both leaders are expected to meet at Elmendorf-Richardson base in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday afternoon.
Russian plane carrying President Putin also landed at Joint Base Elmendorf in Anchorage after the arrival of Trump.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said on X “Russia must end the war that it itself started and has been dragging out for years. The killings must stop. A meeting of leaders is needed at the very least, Ukraine, America, and the Russian side and it is precisely in such a format that effective decisions are possible. Security guarantees are needed. Lasting peace is needed. Everyone knows the key objectives. I want to thank everyone who is helping to achieve real results.”
The talks are likely to last up to 7 hours, including a long working lunch, White House officials stated.
Trump had suggested he will walk out of the summit early if things doesn’t work out.
He said that if things work out well today, there will be another meeting.
“We’re going to have another meeting if things work out… or we’re not going to have any more meetings at all maybe ever,” Trump told a reporter en route to Alaska earlier today.
The outcome of the Trump-Putin Alaska Summit on Ukraine war matters for India.
Trump had imposed additional 25 per cent tariffs on India for purchasing Russian Federation oil, accused New Delhi of sponsoring Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A ceasefire deal could see those additional tariffs lifted. If the talks fail, India could face more tariffs as Trump believes the move could pressure Putin into making a deal.
Russian delegation travelled with Putin includes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, and presidential economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
According to White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, the US delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Special Envoy to Ukraine and the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
White Houses has released more Trump conversations with reporters aboard Air Force.
“It’s not for me to negotiate a deal for Ukraine, but I can certainly set the table to negotiate the deal,” Trump told a reporter in his Air Force One office.
Red carpet has been rolled out for Putin and with ‘Alaska 2025’ on display near the runway of the base where Trump and Putin’s planes landed. Fighter jets have also been stationed nearby.
Trump and Putin greeted as the two leaders met face to face for the first time in Trump’s second term.
