TRUMP MEETS PUTIN IN ALASKA. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT...
⧒ Perspective - News
Good Morning.
I'm Regi and today I'll take you through everything that happened Yesterday on Day 1 of Trump's Alaska Summit together with President Vladimir Putin. Let's dive in...
Executive recap
⧒ The meeting happened at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and included a red carpet, a flyover, and a tightly controlled media plan. Public remarks were brief CBS NewsThe Washington Post
⧒ The most arresting optic was Putin riding with Trump in the U.S. Beast limo. CBS News
⧒ U.S. side expanded the principals’ meeting beyond a one-on-one as previously planned. SoS Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff joined, with plans for a larger working lunch that included Treasury, Commerce, Defense, and the White House chief of staff. CBS News
⧒ Outcome: no ceasefire as of yet and no schedule for a second summit publicly confirmed - schedule for the entire summit was rather vague. This is rather unusual for a summit of this scale and importance.... AP NewsReuters
Hour-by-hour field notes in Alaska time
⧒ 10:22 a.m. AF One lands. Staging includes F-22s on the apron and a rostrum dressed with Alaska 2025. It's clear Trump wants to portray significant military strength to V. Putin.
⧒ Shortly before 11:00 a.m. Putin’s plane touches down. The twin-carpet choreography means that both parties are able to execute a converging handshake in front of aircraft and fighters
⧒ Late morning B-2 and F-35 flyover. This (unusual) moment seems to act as a deterrent theater pointed at Moscow and reassurance theater pointed at allies. To me, it seems it is a paradox by design. CBS News
⧒ Motorcade moment Putin gets into The Beast with Trump. The absence of visible staff is the real story. It projects personal control over process for both men. It should be noted that a Russian leader entering The Beast without any other staff present is incredibly unusual, but seems to indicate Pres. Trump wishes to create a relaxed environment for Putin.
⧒ Afternoon Expanded working lunch planned with Treasury, Commerce, Defense, Chief of Staff.
⧒ Press stage prepared The backdrop reads “Pursuing Peace” and has a U.S. and Russian flag bracketed nearly symmetrically.
⧒ Late afternoon Joint appearance is scripted and short. Analysts expected a news conference. Instead there were statements, no Q&A, and no deliverable.
What each side tried to accomplish
⧒ Trump’s near-term aims
⧒ Create unmistakable visuals of command / control
⧒ Establish a personal channel - as evidenced by the Beast ride
⧒ Float the idea of future formats that keep the spotlight on the Oval Office
⧒ Putin’s near-term aims
⧒ Break narratives of isolation
⧒ Pull the center of gravity away from Kyiv and away from European capitals
⧒ Preserve maximal military freedom
Body language and micro-signals
⧒ Handshake even pressure, sustained eye contact, reciprocal arm pats. That is a negotiated draw.
⧒ Podium choreography Trump inviting Putin to speak first at the joint appearance offered the Russian president a moment of narrative primacy.
⧒ Seating and room geometry Symmetric placement of flags and the “Pursuing Peace” banner projected co-equal status. This was Moscow’s minimum requirement for showing up.
What to watch next
⧒ Zelenskyy in Washington Will Kyiv secure explicit backing against territorial concessions?
⧒ Russian domestic spin Expect state media to rerun the Beast footage for weeks.
⧒ Sanctions cadence Watch for administrative tweaks at Treasury that signal leverage without calling it leverage.
So, that's this weeks rundown of the Trump Alaska Summit
⧒ Perspective
Editor: Regi
Subject: Russia's war in Ukraine
Key Subjects: President Trump (US) President Putin (Russia)