It is not only Russian President Vladimir Putin who is heading to Alaska for landmark talks on US soil. ABC is reporting that a delegation of high-ranking Russian officials, many of them close allies of Putin, will accompany him to Anchorage for discussions that have already drawn significant international attention. Leading the list is Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s veteran foreign minister. At 75, Lavrov has been a key figure in previous peace talks and is widely recognised as one of the most prominent faces of Russian diplomacy. Unlike Putin, Lavrov does not face an International Criminal Court a

It is not only Russian President Vladimir Putin who is heading to Alaska for landmark talks on US soil. ABC is reporting that a delegation of high-ranking Russian officials, many of them close allies of Putin, will accompany him to Anchorage for discussions that have already drawn significant international attention. Leading the list is Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s veteran foreign minister. At 75, Lavrov has been a key figure in previous peace talks and is widely recognised as one of the most prominent faces of Russian diplomacy. Unlike Putin, Lavrov does not face an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, allowing him more freedom to travel abroad. Upon arriving in Anchorage, he made a pointed fashion choice by wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the letters “USSR” —a gesture as subtle as, in one observer’s words, “a sledgehammer.” Also attending is Yuri Ushakov, 78, a senior aide and foreign policy advisor to Putin. A career diplomat, Ushakov previously served as Russia’s ambassador to the United States, giving him extensive experience in US–Russia relations. The delegation includes Andrei Belousov, Russia’s defence minister since last year, appointed following the surprise dismissal of his predecessor Sergei Shoigu, who had held the role for 12 years. Belousov, 66, has made no secret of Moscow’s ambitions, declaring earlier this year: “In 2025, Moscow plans to achieve victory in the war.” Another notable figure is Kirill Dmitriev, 50, the chief of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. Educated in the United States, Dmitriev’s inclusion in the delegation has raised eyebrows, as his exact role in the talks remains unclear. Reports have suggested potential cooperation between the US and Russia on mineral deals. Dmitriev’s personal connections to the Kremlin are also notable, his wife is said to be friends with Putin’s daughters. Finally, Anton Siluanov, Russia’s finance minister since 2011, will take part. At 60, Siluanov has spent the past several years grappling with the severe impact of Western sanctions on Russia’s economy. His presence has prompted speculation that the Kremlin may use the Alaska talks to push for some of these restrictions to be lifted. The mix of political veterans, economic strategists, and military leaders signals the breadth of issues likely to be on the table in Alaska, from the war in Ukraine and sanctions to potential areas of economic cooperation.

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