Russian leader lands in US for crunch talks with Trump

VLADIMIR Putin touched down in Alaska to talk with Donald Trump in their first meeting in the United States.

- By Will Stewart

The Russian and American leaders' summit will be held in the northernmost region of the US state, where their nations almost touch, on the Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base.

Their last encounter was at the G20 summit in Japan in 2019 during Mr Trump's first term.

The trip marks the first time in a decade since Putin has set foot on American soil.

He arrived aboard his "flying Kremlin" - the Ilyushin II-96-300PU. The aircraft boasts a broader wingspan than Air Force One but is 50ft shorter and notably slower.

The Air Force Base is 630 miles from Russian territory - the Chukotka region where former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich was once the governor.