Russian leader Vladimir Putin has his first and last words at a summit with President Donald Trump held in American soil.
Trump and Putin shake hands in Alaska ahead of Ukraine meeting
The president shook hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin after arriving in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine.
WASHINGTON – When Vladimir Putin’s summit with Donald Trump ended, the Russian president ordered the world’s attention.
“President. Women and Gentlemen,” Putin began.
It was very unusual for Putin to first talk at a US-hosted summit. Trump gestured to a licensed Russian leader as he took the stage that he should lead the way.
Addressing the camera, Putin declared that he had reached an “accord” that would allow him to resolve the “Ukrainian problem” and restore “business-like” relations with the United States.
Trump said minutes later they had moved forward under the agreement, but he said there was no deal. He praised Putin and refused to point out that his predecessor’s disgust towards Putin was spurred by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
See the key moments at the Alaska Summit.
Trump gives Putin a warm welcome
From start to finish, Trump’s summit with Putin was full of dignity and circumstances.
Fighter jet escort. Red carpet. A B-2 bomber flew overhead. Trump applauded as Putin approached, laughing at his face.
The overjoyed greetings from the president’s offer to Putin at Elmendorf joint base in Alaska were much warmer than what he received when he was in the United States before.
On that occasion, then-President Barack Obama, who attended the UN General Assembly for a 2015 visit to New York City, criticized Putin in a speech about the annexation of Crimea and the attack on eastern Ukraine.
As they posed together for a photo, Obama gave Putin a funny handshake. “Thank you guys,” Obama said. Leaders did not answer the reporter’s questions as they left.
Putin rides a presidential limousine
Almost ten years later, in Alaska, and more than three years after a full-scale attack on Russia’s Ukraine, Trump smiled at Putin and clasped his leader’s hand. First on the red carpet, and again on the platform.
Trump and Putin also ignored questions from journalists.
Trump led Putin to the limousine of the US president known as the beast and boarded him in the conference hall.
Inside the armored car, Putin smiled and waved from behind the bulletproof glass behind him.
He swayed them with very critical questions about his country’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians, and he swayed his neck in the face at the start of their meeting. A stone-faced Trump sat on his left, his hands clenched between his legs.
Putin has the first – last word
Leaders met for about three hours before reappearing to make a joint statement.
Putin spoke first.
Then Trump spoke.
“I would like to thank President Putin and his entire team,” Trump said. “You can always see your face in the newspaper.”
Trump said Putin’s aides are almost as famous as the Russian leader. “This one is especially here,” Trump said.
Lavrov was at the summit earlier in the day wearing a sweatshirt that said CCCP, the Russian language of the Soviet Union. This movement was interpreted as blatant trolling. The discussion was about Ukraine, a former Soviet republic.
He concludes his statement. Trump said he hopes Putin will see him again “quickly” again, and he was very grateful for his coming.
“Thank you very much, Vladimir,” Trump said, calling him in his name.
Putin didn’t miss the beat.
“Next time in Moscow,” he said.
A skeptical Trump said he “gets a little fever on it,” but he didn’t rule it out.
