ISTANBUL

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is taking part in expanded-format talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

Trump welcomed Putin on the tarmac in the US state in a red-carpet ceremony as both leaders simultaneously deplaned before posing for photographs under a flyover by a stealth bomber and fighter jets.

They then traveled in the US presidential limousine to the summit venue.

The two presidents began their meeting in a three-on-three format, with Trump joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Putin’s delegation included top aides. They will later move to a working lunch in an expanded setting with additional officials, including Belousov.

Trump told Fox News earlier that he would “walk” away from the talks if no progress was made, later clarifying that any potential territorial swaps between Ukraine and Russia would be for Kyiv to decide.

“They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected territorial concessions, and said Wednesday that Trump expressed a readiness to provide his country with security guarantees.

Aboard Air Force One, Trump said the guarantees are possible “along with Europe and other countries,” but “not in the form of NATO.”

The summit marks the first in-person meeting between sitting US and Russian presidents since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, with talks expected to cover Ukraine, potential security arrangements and wider regional and international issues.