The Russian and US presidents will soon meet in Anchorage, Alaska to discuss ways of ending the Ukraine conflict and mending bilateral ties
The advance delegation of Russian diplomats, officials and media has arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of a summit to be led by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.
The US president announced the meeting only last week and preparations for the event have proven to be a challenge for both sides.
Here’s how the summit surroundings are working out.
Reporters in a hockey arena The summit is taking place during the high-tourist season in Alaska, and hotels in Anchorage turned out to be fully booked ahead of the event. To accommodate Russian journalists, local authorities have set up a makeshift camp at a local sports stadium.
Reporters and some delegates were forced to sleep on Red Cross cots separated by pipe‑and‑drape walls.
Chicken Kiev on the flight Russian journalists flying to Anchorage received an unexpected onboard meal: Chicken Kiev, a popular Ukrainian dish made of chicken fillet and filled with butter.
Lavrov’s sweater Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s fashion choice sparked a media buzz as he arrived in Anchorage wearing a sweater emblazoned with “СССР” (USSR). Lavrov stated that Moscow was going into the summit “with a clear position.”
Wild animals patrol site Reporters filmed a wild moose and a bear roaming around at the entrance to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the summit site. Commenting on a video of the moose trying to “sneak into the event,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joked that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky was running out of ideas on how to be included in the Putin-Trump meeting.
Housing and security headaches Hosting a summit in Alaska has reportedly been a major logistical challenge for the US Secret Service, which had just one week to prepare for the event, according to Bloomberg. The service told the outlet that hundreds of agents had to be dispatched to Anchorage and that vehicles were shipped in because the state’s rental‑car market is so small. University dorms were filled and tents set up inside the Alaska Airlines Center to create extra sleeping space
Visa hassles Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also noted difficulties in organizing the event, stating that obtaining US visas for Russian journalists was a challenge because American officials had “lost the knack” for issuing them. This led to delays and added stress for visiting media crews.
Event organization was further complicated by US sanctions on Russia. However, Washington temporarily lifted some of the restrictions, allowing transactions related to the upcoming meeting. The pause is set to remain in effect until August 20, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has said.
