High-Stakes Summit Between Putin and Trump Fuels Diplomatic Tensions
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is set to participate in negotiations following a critical summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, reports 24brussels.
The meeting is taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, as the two leaders seek to achieve a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. This summit is notably the first face-to-face interaction between Trump and Putin since 2019 and the first visit by a Russian president to the U.S. since 2015, marking a significant event underscored by its location on U.S. military property.
Initial reports from Russian state media suggest that the summit could produce “certain advances in normalization” between the two countries. Senator Vladimir Dzhabárov remarked to RIA Novosti that the discussions might pave the way for renewed diplomatic and economic cooperation.
The bilateral meeting commenced at approximately 15:30 local time under a banner proclaiming “Pursuing Peace.” Trump was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin brought along Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, and Defense Minister Belousov.
Expanded negotiations will likely address military de-escalation, sanctions relief, and security arrangements in Eastern Europe and the Arctic. Belousov’s involvement highlights Russia’s commitment to confronting defense issues directly, including NATO troop movements and U.S. military support for Ukraine.
Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the failure to reach a ceasefire by the end of the summit, indicating that his administration’s patience is wearing thin. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s absence from the talks has raised concerns among European allies regarding the potential for territorial concessions.
