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 two leaders will first hold a one-on-one meeting before joining wider delegation level talks which will focus on the Ukraine war as well as potential “bilateral cooperation” between the two countries on economic and trade matters.
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, Ushakov said each country’s delegation will have five members, and 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.
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 which 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)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/08/14/kremlin-says-trump-and-putin-will-meet-one-on-one-before-delegation-level-talks/