US-Russia talks on Ukraine: Who are in the delegations along with Trump and Putin to Alaska?

As Air Force One landed in Anchorage, White House informed that the summit would start with a three-on-three meeting before a larger working lunch.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: August 16, 2025 03:29 PM IST

2 min read

President Donald Trump meets with Russia's President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bilateral meeting is underway. Before the discussions began at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the leaders alongside their top officials were shown sitting against a backdrop that said “Alaska 2025” and “Pursuing Peace.”

The White House press pool traveling with the President reported that Trump and Putin were seated by 11:26 a.m. local time, and the press was ushered out of the room by 11:27 a.m. local time.

When Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Finland for their 2018 summit, they spoke one-on-one with translators for over two hours before inviting aides to join.

President Donald Trump meets with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Initially, it seemed the upcoming Alaska summit might follow a similar format. However, as Air Force One landed in Anchorage, White House informed that the summit would start with a three-on-three meeting before a larger working lunch.

Here is who is in the delegations on the both sides?

US Side: Trump will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his envoy Steve Witkoff. Rubio, previously a Russia hawk, now heads the State Department, while Witkoff has been involved in direct talks with Russian leaders for months.

Russian Side: On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov will join Putin for the three-on-three session. Both are veteran diplomats central to shaping Russian foreign policy—Lavrov has led the foreign ministry for over 20 years, and Ushakov, a key presidential adviser for more than a decade, previously served as Russia’s ambassador to the US.