The Past U.S. Presidents Who Met Putin

And what their experiences can tell us about how the Alaska summit might unfold.

Bush and Putin stand side-by-side at the bottom of the image, seen from below eye level in a shot that shows an open expanse of mostly cloudy sky overhead. A bit of blue is visible on the left side of the image. Both men wear serious expressions and button-up shirts without jackets. August 13, 2025, 5:40 PM

When U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for high-stakes talks , Trump will be coming face-to-face with a shrewd leader who has dealt with his fair share of U.S. presidents.

In Anchorage, the two presidents are set to discuss the future of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—which began nearly three an

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