Trump and Putin share handshake in Alaska, a warm greeting belying the bloodshed in Ukraine

Source: AP

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and WILL WEISSERT
Updated 4:46 PM CDT, August 15, 2025

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — President Donald Trump greeted Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday with a handshake, a smile and a ride in the presidential limousine before talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine, an unusually warm reception for a U.S. adversary responsible for launching the largest land war in Europe since 1945.

Trump and Putin gripped hands for an extended period of time on a red carpet rolled out at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. As they chatted, Putin grinned and pointed skyward, where B-2s and F-22s — military aircraft designed to oppose Russia during the Cold War — flew overhead.

Reporters nearby yelled, “President Putin, will you stop killing civilians?” and Russia’s leader put his hand up to his ear as though to indicate he couldn’t hear them. Trump and Putin then shared the U.S. presidential limo known as “The Beast” for a short ride to their meeting site, with Putin offering a broad smile as the vehicle rolled past the cameras.

It was the kind of reception typically reserved for close U.S. allies and belied the bloodshed and suffering in the war Putin started in Ukraine. Although not altogether surprising considering their longtime friendly relationship, such outward friendliness before hours of closed-door meetings is likely to raise concerns from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, who fear that Trump is primarily focusing on furthering U.S. interests and not pressing hard enough for Ukraine’s.



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