Russian state media has released footage from the recent Alaska summit that shows Donald Trump appearing unusually warm toward Vladimir Putin, fueling fresh criticism of the U.S. president’s handling of the Russian leader.
The video, distributed by Russia Today (RT), shows Trump and Putin chatting backstage after their public remarks in Anchorage on August 15, 2025. The two leaders had just concluded three hours of talks about ending the war in Ukraine, though they announced no agreement and declined to answer questions from reporters.
In the Kremlin’s clip, Trump greets Putin with a two-handed handshake, laughing as they speak. The only other person present was Putin’s translator. At the end of the exchange, Trump also shook the translator’s hand.
The White House has so far avoided sharing any candid footage of the two leaders, sticking instead to official, carefully staged clips. By contrast, Russia has released multiple details and images from the meeting, emphasizing Trump and Putin’s friendly interactions.
Trump himself later told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he and Putin spoke privately after the press event. “He made a very good speech, and I also finished it up and afterwards we spoke right after that,” Trump said. “We spoke very sincerely. I think he wants to see it done.” Trump even invited Putin to ride with him in the presidential limousine, “the Beast,” when they first greeted each other on the tarmac in Anchorage.
Analysts note that Putin, who is widely described as both a skilled manipulator and a war criminal, benefits from such images, which show Trump treating him as a trusted partner despite Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine. By moving quickly to release the footage, the Kremlin was able to shape the narrative of the summit before Washington had the chance.
Would you like me to rewrite this in a sharper, more critical style that highlights the risks of Trump appearing too close to Putin, or keep it in a straight, neutral news-reporting tone?
