Russian President Vladimir Putin received a grand welcome during his summit with President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska. The event featured a red carpet, a flyover by fighter jets, and a ride in the presidential limousine known as "The Beast." Putin's smile as he rode alongside Trump captured the moment's significance.

Trump stated that he would quickly gauge the summit's success, saying, "within the first two minutes, three minutes, four or five minutes," he would know if it would be a "good meeting or a bad meeting." The limousine ride lasted approximately 10 minutes. It remains unclear if the ride was part of the original plan, as an NBC News producer noticed a vehicle with Moscow plates on the tarmac that seemed to be waiting for Putin.

The warm handshakes and friendly atmosphere set a positive tone for discussions expected to address a violent conflict that has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The initial interactions between Trump and Putin were closely observed, particularly by Ukrainians, who noted the contrast with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's reception at the White House in February. During that visit, Zelenskyy faced criticism from Trump in front of cameras.

There is speculation that Zelenskyy may be invited to future talks, but many observers believe the dynamics of the meeting suggest a power imbalance favoring Putin.

This meeting was not the first instance of a U.S. president sharing a ride in The Beast with a Russian leader. In 2010, President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev took a similar ride to a lunch at Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, Virginia. However, Medvedev had not faced accusations of war crimes from the International Criminal Court, nor was he involved in a conflict characterized by critics as a land grab.