Intensive preparations are ongoing for the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska. A comprehensive security plan has been formulated by the Kremlin to ensure the safe transit of the Russian President. The meeting is planned for August 15th at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base, chosen for its high security. The planned meeting structure includes a face-to-face interaction between Trump and Putin. Trump has expressed confidence in his ability to assess Putin’s intentions regarding the conflict within a short timeframe.
Putin’s journey to Alaska will involve passage through the Bering Strait, entering US airspace from Russian airspace. Flight restrictions will be in place in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15th to facilitate Putin’s arrival. Putin’s aircraft will be subject to specific security protocols, with continuous surveillance by the Secret Service. Putin’s personal security will be the responsibility of Russian security forces. High-level Kremlin officials are actively engaged in the preparations leading up to the meeting. The US State Department reported that Marco Rubio held discussions with Sergey Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, on Tuesday, focusing on the summit’s logistical aspects.
The choice of Alaska as the meeting venue stems from its history as a former Russian territory, sold to the US by the Russian Tsar. An international court has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, and the US is not bound to enforce the court’s rulings. This setup allows Putin to travel directly to Alaska without crossing the borders of countries that might be obliged to act on the International Criminal Court’s warrant. Such a scenario could potentially lead to his arrest. This is the key reason why Putin and Trump selected Alaska as the meeting location. The discussions at this meeting will center on a potential ceasefire and future strategic moves. Ukraine has raised concerns that Russia may be using negotiations to extend the conflict.