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'A long way for nothing?' BBC correspondents on Alaska meeting
Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
The Kremlin says a joint news conference between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump will start soon, Russian media reports.
Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring Russia editor in Anchorage, Alaska
The three-on-three portion of the meeting in Alaska - with Americans Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio, and Russians Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov - has finished, according to the Kremlin.
Myroslava Petsa
BBC News Ukrainian
Trump rolled out a red carpet for Putin on the tarmac in Alaska. Many Ukrainians aren’t taking it lightly.
They fear that the red carpet, the fighter jets in the sky, Trump clapping when he saw Putin and a joint departure in the car of the US president may signal that the White House’'s position on the war in Ukraine may yet again get closer to the one of the Kremlin.
And, so, Ukrainians are pouring out their frustrations on social media. Among them is Valeriy Chaly, Ukraine’s former ambassador to the US. He expressed his dismay at the very warm welcome of Putin in Anchorage.
“The first impression is usually the most accurate. The red carpet for [Putin] is laid out by the American military right under the gangway (the plane missed by a little bit)! They drove off together in a car...
"Did someone (probably a journalist) manage to ask [Putin], loudly, in the presence of the US president, if he would stop killing civilians? He pointed to his ear, which showed that he could not hear...It's disgusting and sad to watch all this...”
Image source, White House/XMinutes after Presidents Trump and Putin kicked off their summit in Alaska, the White House shared a picture of the two leaders standing together and smiling.
The snap is accompanied by a short caption; "Pursuing Peace" - the slogan for today's summit.
Shortly after, a second image of Trump and Putin walking down the red carpet as they headed for the US president's car - The Beast - was shared on the official account with a one-word caption: "Historic."
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Putin sits with Ushakov (left) and Sergei Lavrov (second from left)
Behind closed doors, negotiations are currently taking place in a "three-on-three" format - with two key advisers joining each country's president at the table.
On the Russian end:
(A short while ago, the Kremlin said a fourth delegate - the defence minister - would join the talks in an "expanded format". It's not clear at what point.)
Image source, AFPTrump sits alongside Rubio (second from the right) and Witkoff (right)
On the US side:
It's not the first time these four men have met at the negotiating table. They all took part in Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia in February, but without Trump or Putin.
As a reminder, there's no seat for President Zelensky or anyone representing Ukraine - the future of which is central to today's talks. Another notable absence is the US's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent
A red line was crossed on a red carpet as President Trump warmly welcomed the man shunned by Western leaders since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
And there’s a familiar ring to this summit slogan of "pursuing peace".
In President Trump’s first term, his high stakes diplomacy involved a US deal with the Taliban in Feb 2020; it was called "Bringing Peace to Afghanistan".
Then, it was the exclusion of the Afghan government from those talks which was controversial.
President Trump even talked about inviting Taliban leaders, under US sanctions linked to terrorism, to Camp David.
Today, it’s the fact that Ukraine is not at the table to discuss the future of Ukraine.
It won’t be lost on some observers, most of all Afghans, that the US president is sitting down with President Putin on the day which marks the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power.
The Taliban knew that once they made a deal with the US, their victory was in sight; President Putin may be thinking the same.
Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
Image source, EPARussian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov will participate in the talks in Anchorage "in an expanded format," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Currently, the delegations are negotiating in a three-on-three format.
President Putin is joined by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, and President Trump by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Liza Fokht
BBC News Russian, in Anchorage
Image source, Liza Fokht/BBCIn Alaska, at the same location where yesterday — on the eve of the Putin-Trump summit — a rally in support of Ukraine was held, supporters of Donald Trump gathered today.
There are now several hundred people here — slightly fewer than yesterday’s pro-Ukraine crowd. Participants have brought US flags and Trump-themed symbols.
There are no Russian flags or signs expressing either support for or criticism of Vladimir Putin at the rally.
One Trump supporter is holding a sign calling for "God's peace".
Eleonore, who was holding the sign, tells the BBC she was honoured that a meeting of such importance was taking place in Alaska, and that she believes President Trump could make a deal with both Russia and Ukraine.
“We trust him,” she said.
Image source, Liza Fokht/BBC
Sakshi Venkatraman
US reporter
Handshakes and a shared limo: Our correspondents unpack Trump and Putin's greeting
After a warm greeting and stopping to have their photograph taken, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have started their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. They've been speaking for about an hour, and we don't expect to see them again until a joint press conference later today.
If you're just joining us, here's what has happened so far:
Image source, Getty ImagesAs Donald Trump and Vladmir Putin prepared to meet in Alaska earlier, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Russia to "end the war that it itself has started".
The Ukrainian leader says that the duo's meeting "is needed" - but reiterates Kyiv must also be included in negotiations to ensure "effective decisions" are made.
Zelensky was not invited to participate in today's meeting in Anchorage.
"Security guarantees are needed. Lasting peace is needed," he writes on X. "Everyone knows the key objectives. I want to thank everyone who is helping to achieve real results."
Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, in Anchorage
Now the waiting game begins for the media assembled her at Elmendorf-Richardson base in Anchorage – and for the world.
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin are presently holding talks, along with their closest foreign policy advisors, before they participate in a "working lunch" with their larger assembled teams.
All of this will take place out of view of the public. The pool reporters who travelled with Trump from Washington this morning are seated in an outdoor tent along with those of us who have been here for days.
At some point, we are expecting to be told to prepare for a post-meeting joint press conference in a nearby ballroom. It is at that point that the world will learn what, if anything has come from these talks.
Gary O'Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent, in Anchorage
Image source, Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty ImagesPutin has received a starkly different reception than Zelensky did when he visited the White House earlier this year.
It was an extraordinary scene we saw in February when Zelensky was subject to an absolute onslaught by Trump at the White House.
You could see Putin smiling as he sat with Trump inside the presidential vehicle, The Beast. Before a word has been said, this is a win for him.
Trump has not accomplished anything just by getting Putin here. But Putin has already achieved a good deal just by getting out of the plane, walking down that red carpet, and getting in The Beast.
This is a man who has been an international pariah.
You can look back at Volodymyr Zelensky's February visit to the Oval Office with Trump in the video below:
Watch moment Zelensky, Vance and Trump get into angry exchange over Ukraine war
Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring, in Anchorage
Image source, File photo/ReutersThe Aurus, Russia's presidential limousine
Putin's visit to Alaska is rife with symbolism. His limousine, a Russian-made Aurus, was there on the tarmac at the Elmendorf-Richardson base, but he chose Donald Trump's US presidential car, "The Beast".
The Russian president was signalling to his US counterpart that he trusts him - and likes him and his car. Putin was also all smiles, in sharp contrast with many years of animosity between the two countries.
That's a very good opening move if you want to make whoever you're negotiating with trust you and believe you.
Image source, Reuters'The Beast' - Trump's US presidential car
Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent
High-stakes summits are usually the work of extensive preparation. In most cases, both sides will work out quite a lot of the detail before their leaders sit down at the table.
From everything we’ve heard so far about this hastily organised summit, President Trump is essentially starting from a blank page. It’s not clear what will come out of it, what the US wants to come out of it.
President Trump’s mantra since he returned to the White House has been "stop the killing". That’s an urgent and noble aim. But there's a very big difference between stopping the killing, and finding a path to end the war and achieve a sustainable peace.
Even just stopping the killing is incredibly complex. It’s even more complex when you’re across the table from the former spy chief and most wily of negotiators President Putin.
But both sides will want to emerge from this summit saying it’s been a success.
President Trump is now saying he wants a ceasefire. In recent months President Putin has only agreed to very limited truces. He is certain to have prepared a form of words so he’s seen to be working with President Trump.
But there’s no sign he has shifted from his long-term goal: the domination of Ukraine.
Liza Fokht
BBC News Russian, in Anchorage
Image source, ReutersJust moments ago, we saw foreign journalists shouting questions at Vladimir Putin during his welcome ceremony in Alaska.
This is the first time in a long while that the Russian president has found himself in a room with so many independent journalists not controlled by the Kremlin.
The work of the Russian press pool that usually travels with the president is very different from how American reporters cover events.
Unsanctioned or uncomfortable questions are almost never asked.
Today reporters have already managed to shout questions at Putin, such as “when will you stop killing civilians?” and “why should Trump trust your words?”
There is no way to know if the Russian president heard the questions - but if he steps out for a press conference, it will be impossible to completely avoid uncomfortable topics.
Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, reporting from Anchorage
When Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Finland for their 2018 summit, they spoke only accompanied by translators for more than two hours before inviting their aides to participate.
It initially appeared that this Alaska summit could have a similar one-on-one session – but that has now changed.
As Air Force One touched down in Anchorage, American reporters were informed that this summit would begin with a three-on-three meeting prior to a larger working lunch. Trump will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his jack-of-all-trades envoy Steve Witkoff.
Rubio was a Russia hawk before ascending to the State Department post and Witkoff has been involved in direct talks with Russian leaders for months.
That provides the US president with an extra layer of support in what he has billed as a "high stakes" summit and may be of some relief to America’s European allies, who have expressed concern that the often-unscripted Trump might offer Putin unexpected concessions or agreements.
We're now seeing pictures of Putin and Trump sitting next to each other inside the summit, in front of a backdrop that says "Pursuing Peace" and "Alaska 2025".
They are accompanied by their delegations, while reporters shout an array of questions at them, and Putin appears to shout back at one stage.
Image source, ReutersIt's unclear what Putin said back to the reporters
Image source, Getty ImagesThey are joined by members of their delegations at the summit in Anchorage, Alaska
Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, reporting from Anchorage
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have now met, shaken hands and exchanged pleasantries.
It appeared they had a friendly but animated conversation, as the president at one point reached over and patted the top of Putin’s hand as they again shook.
There was some question about whether the two men would share a limousine ride to their meeting room.
They did – a brief chance for the two men to be alone before their three-on-three meeting accompanied by top aides.
This is clearly the kind of warm reception that the Russians were hoping for – a leader who had been condemned by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, is now being welcomed on US soil with smiles and seemingly casual conversation.
Vitaliy Shevchenko & Liza Fokht
BBC News, in Anchorage
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov will be with Putin in the three-on-three meeting with Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov says.
Lavrov and Ushakov are veteran diplomats who are central to shaping Russian foreign policy.
Lavrov has led the foreign ministry for over 20 years and Ushakov, a key presidential adviser for more than a decade, previously served as Russia’s ambassador to the US.
Image source, ReutersAs Trump and Putin briefly pause for a photo, standing on a platform, reporters take the opportunity to shout questions at the two leaders.
"President Putin, will you agree to a ceasefire?" one person asks.
Another asks what Trump's message is to Putin.
The two walk away shortly after the last question from a reporter who asked Putin if he would stop killing civilians. Trump and Putin are travelling in the same car together.