U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet this Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage.
Anchorage, Alaska — The planes carrying Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to touch down this Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, a heavily secured U.S. military installation in Anchorage chosen as the arrival point for both leaders ahead of high-stakes talks on the war in Ukraine.
The base—home to both U.S. Air Force and Army units—offers expansive runways capable of handling the Russian president’s Ilyushin Il-96 and the U.S. presidential aircraft, as well as controlled access to ensure security. Aviation experts note the location allows both leaders to arrive directly without passing through civilian terminals, minimizing exposure and operational risk.
Putin’s aircraft is expected to fly in from Moscow, crossing the Bering Strait before heading south into Anchorage airspace under strict coordination with U.S. and Russian security teams. Trump, who will be traveling from the continental United States, will arrive aboard a specially outfitted private jet escorted by U.S. military aircraft.
The choice of Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson is both practical and symbolic: situated roughly halfway between Moscow and Washington, it avoids the political sensitivities of either capital while providing infrastructure to accommodate large, high-security delegations.
Once on the ground, the two leaders will be escorted to secure meeting facilities on base. The White House has called the August 15 gathering a “listening exercise,” but critics have voiced concern over the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or European representatives.
The simultaneous landings of Trump and Putin in Anchorage are expected to draw intense media attention—though the base’s perimeter and airspace will be sealed off to the public during their arrival.
Friday’s summit marks Putin’s first landing on U.S. soil in years, underscoring the extraordinary nature of the talks and the delicate choreography behind every mile of the two leaders’ journey.
