First came the red carpet, then hearty handshakes, friendly smiles and military planes flying overhead.
Finally, the President of the United States of America Donald tramp and the Russian leader Vladimir Putin they got into the back seat of the presidential limousine, chatting like old friends as the car drove them to talks about the future of the war in Ukraine.
It was a welcome given to the closest American allies, the Associated Press agency writes. This time, he is being framed for the opposing leader who has launched Europe's biggest land war since World War II and is seen by many in the US as one of its most dangerous enemies.
However, a few hours later, after the talks were over, their interaction seemed considerably more restrained.
Trump and Putin appeared briefly at what was billed as a joint press conference -- though neither took questions. They spoke in general about "understanding" and "progress", praising each other, from lecterns placed unusually far from each other, in front of a background that read "Aspiration for Peace".
Trump has repeatedly called on Putin to end the invasion of Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, and during last year's election campaign insisted he could end the conflict in 24 hours. In recent weeks, he has made it clear he is not happy with Russia's more than three-year offensive and has threatened "serious consequences" and additional sanctions if no progress is made on Friday.
Grand opening
We watched a carefully directed scene in Alaska - the two leaders got off their planes almost simultaneously and walked side by side along the red carpet spread out on the runway.
Trump wore a ruby tie and Putin a burgundy tie.
The US president applauded briefly as he waited for his Russian counterpart. He held out his hand as he approached him, and then they shook hands for a long time, tapped elbows, talked and smiled. At that moment, F-22 and B-2 military aircraft, partly designed for a possible conflict with the Soviet Union, were flying over the Anchorage military base. They did not come into active use until the end of the Cold War, but their projects were launched in the XNUMXs and XNUMXs, at the height of the American-Soviet rivalry.
They ignored reporters' questions as they stood on a platform that read "Alaska 2025."
"President Putin, will you stop killing civilians?" one journalist called out. Putin pointed to his ear, suggesting he hadn't heard.
Trump, emphasizing his role as host, then showed Putin where the presidential limousine was waiting for him. They both got into the back seat and could be seen talking through the tinted windows.
As the motorcade moved, Putin smiled.
How was it with Zelensky?
The pomp and warplanes may have served to remind the Russian leader of America's military might, but they also underscored the dramatic contrast between Trump's attitude toward Putin and Ukrainian President VOlodimir Zelensky, an American ally, whom Trump harshly criticized for "disrespect" in the Oval Office in February.
That visit ended without the signing of a planned rare metals deal and without a joint press conference, after Trump's top advisers asked Zelensky to leave the White House.
"You're gambling with World War III, and what you're doing shows disrespect for this country - a country that supported you much more than many think it should," Trump chided Zelensky when the latter warned him that Putin could not be trusted.
Since then, Trump has publicly shown increasing frustration with Putin. As Russian attacks on Ukraine escalated, Trump took to social media to call on the Russian president to stop the attacks, declaring that Putin has "completely lost his mind."
But little of that frustration was on display Friday during a meeting between the two leaders, whose friendly relationship Trump's critics have long viewed as extremely dubious.
Press conference - no questions asked
A few hours later, after the meeting of the delegations of both countries, Trump and Putin entered the hall with journalists and the American and Russian delegations.
Putin spoke first, saying an "understanding" had been reached about Ukraine, but offered no details.
He agreed with Trump's long-repeated claim that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine in 2022 if Trump had been president instead of Democrat Joe Biden.
"I say that because President Trump and I have established a strong, reliable and practical relationship," Putin said.
He repeated Moscow's position that it is "sincerely interested in ending" the war in Ukraine - but only after "all the roots of the crisis are removed".
"I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine," Putin said in Russian, without further explanation.
Then Donald Trump took the floor, telling reporters that he "always had a fantastic relationship" with Putin.
The American president said that during the "extremely productive meeting" "great progress" was achieved. Trump said that he had "agreed on many points" and that "only a few" remained to be resolved. He offered no details.
He did not mention the ceasefire he is seeking, nor did he criticize Putin for killing civilians in Ukraine.
Finally, Putin said he hoped the two would meet again soon.
"Next time in Moscow," he said in English and smiled.
Journalists raised their hands and shouted questions, filming with cellphones as the leaders exchanged another handshake and left the hall.
Sources: AP/The Guardian
