Topline
A senior Kremlin official outlined key details of President Donald Trump’s Friday summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska, saying the leaders will hold a one-on-one meeting before joining the wider delegation to discuss the Ukraine war and potential “bilateral cooperation” between the two countries.
President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet on Friday.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
In a media briefing on Thursday, Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top policy adviser, said the leaders will meet privately before meeting the wider delegation, and each country’s delegation will have five members; the Russian contingent will include its foreign, defense and finance ministers, along with Ushakov himself and the CEO of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
The wider delegation-level talks will take place over a “working breakfast,” and the duration of the summit will depend on how the discussion goes.
Ushakov said a joint press conference is planned after the meeting, depending on its outcome, but it is unclear if Putin and Trump will address it.
The summit, which is set to take place at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Alaska, will begin at 11:30 a.m. local time, and Trump and Putin will “say a few words” before the meeting.
The “settlement” of the Ukraine war will be the “central topic” of the meeting, Ushakov added.
What Else Do We Know About The Meeting?
Ushakov indicated that the trade discussions may also form a key part of the meeting, noting that “an exchange of views on the further development of bilateral cooperation, including in the trade and economic sphere, is expected.” The foreign policy official then noted: “I would like to note that this cooperation [between Russia and the U.S. in trade] has enormous potential, which, unfortunately, has not been tapped yet.” Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Moscow’s sovereign wealth fund, will be a member of Russia’s delegation, a potential sign that trade may be a key item on the agenda.
What Do We Know About Kirill Dmitriev?
Aside from serving as the chief of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Dmitriev also serves as Putin’s special envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation. In recent months, Dmitriev has spoken positively about the Trump administration and praised the “positive dynamic” in discussions between the two countries. Earlier this year, Dmitriev shared a Truth Social post by Trump on X, where the president said “major Economic Development transactions” will take place between Russia and the U.S. after he negotiates an end to the Ukraine war. The sovereign wealth fund chief wrote: “Russia is open for US Russia economic cooperation and believes such cooperations is key for more resilient global economy.” Since then, he has pushed for U.S. and Russian collaboration in the Arctic and other matters, including space flights to Mars and rare earth metals.
Surprising Fact
A VIP jet of the Russia’s Special Flight Squadron left Moscow for Anchorage early on Thursday, according to live tracking data from FlightRadar24. The plane in question is an Ilyushin Il-96-300, the same type operated by the Special Flight Squadron as the country’s presidential jet. It is unclear if Putin is onboard the flight in question. The plane is scheduled to land in Anchorage at 6:43 a.m. local time. As of early Thursday morning, the Russian jet is the most tracked plane on FlightRadar24, with more than 15,000 following it live.
Further Reading
Trump and Putin will meet at an Alaska military base long used to counter Russia (Associated Press)
What’s at Stake at the Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska (New York Times)