Yes—the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska is happening. Trump has landed, Putin is en route, and this is the first face‑to‑face since Russia’s full‑scale invasion.

But a few details in the rush of breaking news matter. The base has a new name, the “first since the war” claim needs a careful caveat, and the clock everyone is quoting tells a story of its own. Here’s what’s true, what needed fixing, and why it all matters.

The big corrections up front

• Location, named right: The meeting is at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage—“Elmendorf” is a common shorthand, but the official name has been JBER since 2010. Verified.
  Sources: JBER background (en.wikipedia.org, de.wikipedia.org)

• The timestamp checks out: “20:20 German time” equals roughly 10:20 a.m. in Alaska. Live feeds place Air Force One’s touchdown in the 10 a.m. hour local time. The exact minute varies by outlet, but the window matches.
  Sources: Schedule roundups (axios.com, aljazeera.com)

• First since the invasion—specifically in person: This is the first in‑person meeting between a sitting U.S. president and Vladimir Putin since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in February 2022. It is not the first contact of any kind: Trump and Putin spoke by phone earlier this year, and lower‑level delegations met in Saudi Arabia in February.
  Sources: Context and last leaders’ summit (Biden–Putin, Geneva 2021) (en.wikipedia.org); phone contact (cnn.com); delegations meeting (cbsnews.com)

• Zelenskyy is not invited: Ukraine’s president is not part of today’s Alaska talks. Some reports say a follow‑on meeting that includes him could come later.
  Sources: (washingtonpost.com, aljazeera.com, nbcwashington.com)

What’s happening, in plain view

At a military base on the edge of Anchorage, Air Force One touched down in the late morning, Alaska time. The Kremlin leader is advancing from Russia’s Far East, with Russian government aircraft and advance teams already in Anchorage. The two men are set to meet first in a smaller session before a broader set of talks later in the day.

• Verified today:
  • Trump is on the ground at JBER. (apnews.com, reuters.com, washingtonpost.com)
  • Putin is en route via the Russian Far East; Russian teams are in Anchorage. (apnews.com, adn.com)
  • First session late morning, followed by expanded talks. (axios.com, aljazeera.com)

Why Alaska, why now?

Anchorage sits between Washington and Moscow—literally. It has been a practical refueling stop and a geopolitical midpoint for decades. Holding talks at a secure U.S. base close to Russia sends two signals at once: control of the venue and urgency about the war.

Reuters reports Trump is pushing for a ceasefire “today.” That’s an ambition, not a guarantee. We will be watching whether “today” becomes a framework, a pledge, or simply a headline.
Source: (reuters.com)

What this meeting is—and isn’t

• Is: The first face‑to‑face between a U.S. president and Putin since the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The last such summit was Biden–Putin in Geneva in June 2021.
• Isn’t: A first contact since the invasion. There have been calls in 2025, and working‑level talks earlier this year.

That distinction matters. “First since the invasion” sounds absolute. It isn’t. It’s about being in the same room.

The claim-by-claim verdict

• “Trump meets Putin in Alaska today.”
  True. Multiple outlets confirm the summit at JBER in Anchorage.
  Sources: Washington Post, Reuters, AP

• “Air Force One landed around 20:20 German time at Elmendorf (Anchorage).”
  Accurate on timing; tweak the name. 20:20 CEST ≈ 10:20 a.m. AKDT. Use the official base name: Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson.
  Sources: Axios, Al Jazeera, JBER background

• “Putin is on the way.”
  Supported. Russian movements and advance teams are confirmed.
  Sources: AP, ADN

• “First talks between a U.S. president and Putin since the war began.”
  True for an in‑person meeting; clarify scope. There were phone calls and lower‑level talks this year.
  Sources: CNN, CBS

• “Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is not invited.”
  Correct. Some reporting suggests a possible later meeting with him.
  Sources: Washington Post, Al Jazeera

How we checked—and what we still don’t know

Our process:

• Matched the landing time by converting 20:20 CEST to Alaska’s time zone and cross‑checking live coverage.
• Confirmed the base’s official name since the 2010 consolidation into JBER.
• Verified the “first since the invasion” claim against the record of leaders’ meetings (last in 2021) and noted documented calls in 2025.
• Cross‑referenced schedule details across multiple outlets.

Open questions:

• Exact minute of touchdown: Outlets vary by a couple of minutes. We have the correct window; the precise minute may be updated as official logs post.
• Agenda and outcomes: Reuters reports Trump is seeking a same‑day ceasefire, but we do not yet have agreed terms, modalities, or timelines. That will hinge on today’s talks.
• Follow‑on meeting with Zelenskyy: Reported as a possibility; no formal schedule is confirmed.

The bottom line

• Yes, the summit is real, and yes, Trump has landed at JBER in Anchorage.
• Yes, Putin is en route, and the first in‑person U.S.–Russia leaders’ meeting of the post‑invasion era is hours away.
• Mind the wording: It’s Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson. And “first since the invasion” means first face‑to‑face—not first contact.

Stay tuned: we’ll update as the doors close, the cameras exit, and the hard part begins.