President Donald Trump extended a rare invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to join him in the Beast, the presidential limousine.

Even after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which resulted in the loss of Ukrainian civilian lives, Trump accorded Putin a diplomatic reception.

The two men walked on red carpets to meet one another on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, located just outside of Anchorage, Alaska. 

Trump clapped several times upon seeing Putin, who he met with several times during his first term.  

They shook hands and ignored reporters’ questions, while the press pushed Putin on the war in Ukraine and the deaths of Ukrainian civilians. 

Trump then led Putin into the Beast, where they engaged in a private discussion during the brief drive under 10 minutes to their meeting spot on the base.

No aides nor translators were with the two leaders. 

Footage appeared to show Putin smiling as he rode along with Trump during their only alone time at the start of the summit. 

Russian senator Natalia Kosikhina later commented on Russian state media that the shared car ride was indicative of a ‘high level of mutual trust’ and a willingness for ‘open dialogue.’

Ahead of Trump’s arrival in Alaska, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Trump and Putin would no longer be meeting one-on-one. 

Instead, Trump would be joined by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who has taken several trips to Moscow to try and negotiate a Ukraine ceasefire and greater peace, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Putin brought along Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov to the official negotiation. 

Trump’s show of respect to the Russian leader was in direct contrast to the welcome he gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in late February. 

Their on-air spat, which included Vice President J.D. Vance, sent shockwaves around the world and rattled European leaders, who have been in lockstep with Zelensky and have contributed to the defense of Ukraine. 

‘You don’t have the cards,’ Trump yelled at Zelensky, telling the Ukrainian president was gambling with ‘World War III’ and that he was being ‘disrespectful’ to the American people. 

The Oval Office showdown was remarkable because Trump has generally used flattery – even on the most odious world leaders. 

During his first face-to-face meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June 2018, Trump fawned over the North Korean dictator, telling reporters afterward that he floated that instead of testing nuclear weapons, Kim could take advantage of the country’s ‘great beaches.’ 

‘I explained, I said, “You know, instead of doing that, you could have the best hotels in the world right there,”‘ Trump said he told Kim. 

During that same meeting with Kim, Trump showed him the Beast – but didn’t allow the North Korean leader to take a ride.  

Zelensky and Trump have since improved their relationship, while the president has  taken a harder tone against Putin amid Russia’s continued assault against Ukraine, with missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian civilians. 

Trump has credited first lady Melania Trump for his change of tone – saying that she’s pointed out the brutality of the Ukraine war, while the president has been trying to negotiate an end of it on calls with Putin.