The buildup to President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on U.S. soil, aimed at negotiating a ceasefire or peaceful solution to the long-standing Russia-Ukraine conflict, can best be described as loud and spectacular. During the official welcoming ceremony on the tarmac, as you may have seen, a dazzling display featured a B-2 stealth bomber flying overhead, escorted by several U.S. military jets.

🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/nb4hbzTeee

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 17, 2025

As my colleague Katie Jerkovich wrote, the show of American might, from the get-go, certainly got Putin’s attention:

Putin clearly didn’t see it coming; he paused while walking with Trump, glanced upward, first in one direction, then another, as the sky teemed with the presence of the U.S. military. Trump also halted momentarily, seeming unfazed as he applauded, then leaned over to share a few words with the visiting leader.

As expected, the news cycle heading into the weekend, including Saturday, has been heavily focused on the Russia-U.S. summit in Alaska. The latest developments on a potential breakthrough involving dialogue between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seem promising for the next day or two. Zelensky has accepted President Trump’s invitation to meet in Washington, D.C., on Monday.