Russian Presidential Jets Touch Down in Alaska Ahead of High-Security Putin–Trump Talks on Ukraine.
Anchorage, Alaska — The first of three Russian government Ilyushin Il-96-300 aircraft has landed at Anchorage Airport, kicking off the high-security arrivals for tomorrow’s summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The aircraft, registered RA-96023, touched down in Anchorage this afternoon after a trans-Arctic flight from Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, crossing the Bering Strait before entering U.S. airspace under strict military coordination.
Two additional Il-96-300 aircraft—RA-96019 and RA-96018—are currently en route and expected to arrive later today or early tomorrow. RA-96024 is known as one of Putin’s primary presidential aircraft, while RA-96019 and RA-96018 typically carry senior government officials, aides, and security personnel. The presence of three long-range jets underscores the scale and complexity of the Russian delegation’s logistics.
Friday’s meeting will be the first time Putin has set foot on U.S. soil since before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While the White House has called the gathering a “listening exercise,” the exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has prompted concern among Kyiv and NATO allies about the direction of the talks.
UPDATE 1
The Il-96 RA-96023 has already Anchorage to Russia.
