U.S. F-35s Escort Putin’s Presidential Jet After Alaska Meeting With Trump

On August 15, 2025, Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. While the meeting produced no ceasefire agreement, it marked Putin’s first visit to the U.S. in a decade and featured both ceremony and spectacle.

The Arrival

Putin flew into Alaska aboard his presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-96-300PU, known as the “Flying Kremlin.” This heavily modified jet, serving as Russia’s equivalent to Air Force One, combines secure command facilities with opulent interiors, including gold fittings, woodwork, conference rooms, and private offices.

Trump greeted the Russian leader with full honors—red carpet, a military guard, and even an aerial display as a B-2 Spirit bomber thundered overhead accompanied by four F-35 Lightning IIs. F-22 Raptors flanked the ceremonial line of honor, underscoring the importance of the moment.

The Departure Escort

After the talks concluded, the Kremlin released video from inside Putin’s Il-96 showing two U.S. Air Force F-35As escorting the jet as it departed Alaskan airspace. Though Russian media initially misidentified them as F-22s, the fighters were confirmed as Lightning IIs from the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base.

Such escorts are not symbolic gestures but part of strict security protocols. Host nations are responsible for the safety of visiting heads of state, and fighter protection ensures immediate response capability against potential airborne threats. Comparable escorts have occurred before—such as Eurofighters accompanying Xi Jinping’s aircraft into Rome in 2019.