In his first time period, President Donald Trump met with Russia’s Vladimir Putin six instances however one second stood out.
It occurred in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018 when Trump, standing subsequent to him, recommended he believed Putin’s denial that Russia interfered within the 2016 election over the findings of U.S. intelligence.
On the time, Trump mentioned U.S.-Russia relations had “by no means been worse” than earlier than they met however that had “modified.”
Now, Trump is about to carry his first one-on-one assembly with Putin of his second time period at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
The backdrop for Friday’s highly-anticipated summit is a darker one, amid Russia’s relentless onslaught on Ukraine and Putin presenting a irritating impediment to Trump’s professed need to finish the battle.
The assembly will highlight their relationship — one which Trump mentioned throughout the 2024 marketing campaign was so robust he may finish the battle on his first day in workplace and even earlier than.
“Plainly Donald Trump used to suppose that he understands Putin nicely and has a great rapport with him, however over the previous couple of months we have seen him alter his place in that regard and truly turn into extra annoyed with Putin. I feel he is changing into extra moderated in his expectations about what the assembly can deliver,” mentioned Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia with the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump shake fingers earlier than a gathering in Helsinki on July 16, 2018.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Trump referred to as Putin a “robust chief” in his first time period and a “genius” shortly after his forces first invaded Ukraine.
Early in his second time period, Trump mentioned that Putin could be “beneficiant” in peace talks and Ukraine tougher.
Trump made a number of public calls for of Ukraine, together with that it must quit its purpose of becoming a member of NATO and probably cede some territory, whereas notably not setting any such crimson strains for Russia.
The president even sympathized with Putin’s standing as a worldwide pariah, saying in February that he would “love” for Russia to rejoin the Group of Seven nations and that it was a mistake for Moscow to have been expelled from the corporate of world leaders following Putin’s annexation of Crimea.
“Look, nothing’s going to occur till Putin and I get collectively, OK?” Trump mentioned again within the spring.
Over the previous couple of months, nonetheless, Trump’s tone towards Putin has shifted.
“I’ve all the time had an excellent relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, however one thing has occurred to him. He has gone completely CRAZY!” Trump wrote on his social media platform in late Might.
Trump expressed repeatedly that he is “disenchanted” within the Russian president as strikes intensified between Russia and Ukraine this summer time.
In July, Trump mentioned he was fed up with the “bull—- thrown at us by Putin.” “He is very good on a regular basis, nevertheless it seems to be meaningless,” he mentioned.
“We’re not pleased with Putin. I am not pleased with Putin. I can let you know that a lot proper now, as a result of he is killing lots of people,” Trump added.
Trump has stored American-made weapons provided to Ukraine via a cope with European companions and not too long ago slapped steep secondary tariffs on India, one of many largest purchasers of Russian oil, in oblique strain on Moscow.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press about deploying federal legislation enforcement brokers in Washington to bolster the native police presence, within the Press Briefing Room on the White Home, in Washington, August 11, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Nonetheless, Trump held again on his threats to impose harsher sanctions on Aug. 8 if Putin didn’t conform to a ceasefire. As an alternative, on that date, Trump introduced he would host the Russian chief on U.S. soil for a one-on-one assembly.
“He has extra that he may do with a view to push Putin to return to the desk,” mentioned William Taylor, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine at present serving as a senior fellow on the Atlantic Council.
Up to now, Trump has tempered expectations about Friday’s summit. He is referred to as it a “feel-out assembly” and the White Home described it as a “listening train.”
On the identical time, he warned once more this week of “extreme penalties” if Russia did not finish the battle.
“I feel that Trump believes that strongmen of Putin’s variety are to be negotiated with eye to eye, and he desires to really feel the bottom to see what he will get from the assembly with Putin. The issue with that’s Putin can also be a shrewd manipulator and he has the KGB background, he’s identified to be very convincing and make folks like him in particular person,” mentioned Snegovaya.
John Bolton, Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser, mentioned Putin’s purpose for this summit is to get again into Trump’s good graces.
“What Putin desires to get again, he is not so frightened in regards to the sanctions, he desires the connection again with Trump. We’ll see if he will get it,” Bolton mentioned on ABC’s “This Week.”
