Putin brushes off question about civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch!

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Anchorage, Alaska, with a red carpet reception at the start of their much-anticipated summit. As the leaders briefly posed for photographers before heading inside, fielding pointed questions from reporters along the way, the Russian president was seen deliberately avoiding questions on the civilian killings in Ukraine.

Putin ignores pointed question

Video from the much-anticipated meeting shows one journalist asking Putin when Russia would stop killing civilians in Ukraine, a question that appeared to have caught the Russian president off guard, who then pretended not to hear the question.

In a moment which has been noted by netizens, US President Trump, who, in recent days, has penalised India and other Russian trade partners for purchasing oil from Moscow, was meanwhile seen smirking. Glancing at Putin, Trump then exchanged a few words in a private, murmured conversation before he proceeded to place a hand on his counterpart’s back, steering him toward the presidential limousine, "The Beast."

On X, netizens were quick to slam Trump for his reaction and for the red carpet put in place for Putin. One user, posting a video of the interaction, said, "This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in US presidential history". Slamming the "literal red carpet the Trump administration rolled out for" a "war criminal".

Inside the venue, under the summit's banner "Pursuing Peace," the pair again posed for the press and faced reporters alongside their delegations. There, Putin was once more pressed about civilian casualties in Ukraine, prompting Trump to abruptly end the photo op with a "thank you" to reporters.

The Alaska summit comes as the war in Ukraine nears its third year, with US–Russia tensions at their highest since the Cold War.