Red carpet, overflight of combat aircraft, and almost demonstrative kindness: Donald Trump offered Vladimir Putin on Friday a very choreographed return to the international scene. Shortly after 9:00 p.m. at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska, under a gray sky, the American president and the Russian president came down from their respective plane.
Donald Trump applauded, very briefly, when Vladimir Putin advanced towards him, on a red carpet rolled through the tarmac. The two men then exchanged an energetic handshake, smiles, certainly kinds – their words were inaudible for journalists. Donald Trump tapped his guest’s hand.
That the Russian leader, under arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court, under multiple sanctions in many countries, ventures out of his country is already exceptional.
But that he does it to be received with all the honors in the United States, that was properly unthinkable before Donald Trump’s shattering return to the White House, turning away from the pro-Ukraine line of his predecessor Joe Biden.
Ukraine and the European Union fear that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin do not undertake the map of Ukraine without the agreement of the Ukrainian president. Zelensky was warmly received in London on Thursday by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. European leaders are blocking around him and try to weigh on the unpredictable Donald Trump.
Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs Serguei Lavrov, said upon arrival: “We do not make any prediction. We know that we have our arguments and our position is clear and unambiguous. We will present it “.
“It will return to Ukraine to decide on exchanges of territories, Donald Trump told the press as he headed, on board Air Force One, towards Alaska.
Follow our direct dedicated to the summit in Alaska, below:
