Russian media celebrated US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday as an absolute win.
Russia has perceived its gradual exile from the world stage as anti-Russian. However, after Putin went to a meeting on continental US soil, Kremlin-affiliated public figures and media appear to think that Russia’s ostracization from the West was seemingly over.
“Western media are in a state that can be described as hysteria bordering on complete madness: for three years they spoke of Russia’s isolation, and today they saw the red carpet rolled out for the Russian president in the US,” said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Russian reports from before the meeting emphasized that the Kremlin's delegation would be discussing matters beyond a ceasefire in Ukraine, such as economic ties and general US-Russia relations.
Putin himself noted that Russia and the US must "turn the page to go back to cooperation." Trump also praised Putin for bringing Russian businessmen to the summit, but noted that he would not make any deals until the war was ended.
"The meeting in Alaska confirmed Russia's desire for peace, long-term and fair," said Andrei Klishas, a senior lawmaker from President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party.
"The tasks of the SMO will be accomplished either by military or diplomatic means," Klishas wrote, using the acronym for Special Military Operation, the Kremlin's term for the war. "A new architecture for European and international security is on the agenda, and everyone must accept it."
Former Russian President and Kremlin hawk Dmitry Medvedev said that the talks proved that the two countries could meet without preconditions as the fighting continues on the frontlines of Ukraine.
"A full-fledged mechanism of meetings between Russia and the US at the highest level has been restored. Calm, without ultimatums or threats," he wrote.
Medvedev also noted that "both sides directly placed responsibility for achieving future results in negotiations on ending hostilities on Kyiv and Europe."
Putin says war would not have happened if Trump in office
Russian state media portrayed it as if the two leaders were on very good terms. Russian state media outlet RIA reported that Trump went so far as to personally invite Putin into his armored car, nicknamed “the Beast.”
A Russia24 anchor stated that Trump was “extremely friendly towards Putin,” and commented on the two’s “historic handshake.”
"The Red carpet, handshakes and footage and photographs that are in all global publications and TV channels," Russia's Channel24 said, adding that it was the first time that Trump had met a visiting leader off their plane at the airport.
The Kremlin chief even went so far as to corroborate Trump’s claims that the war in Ukraine would not have happened if he were in office.
“Today, President Trump was saying that if he was president back then, there would be no war, and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so,” Putin said at the press conference. “I can confirm that.”
Russian state outlet TASS also reported that US F-22 bomber planes accompanied Putin’s plane back to Russia.
'Kremlin kiss a**' or serious consequences?
However, Putin and Trump’s meeting was met with division from US representatives.
While the White House went so far as to call the meeting “historic”, the official X/Twitter account for the Democratic party noted that “Trump invited a dictator onto U.S. soil just to get his s*** rocked."
“The very fact that Putin will be on American soil is a huge win for him,” said Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA). "First, he is legitimized and not a global pariah. Second, he would be subject to arrest in 123 countries due to his ICC arrest warrant. Here he is walking free.”
Trump later told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he would not be placing sanctions on Russia or its trading partners, namely India or China.
“Because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about it. I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now. I think the meeting went very well,” he said.
“Trump toasted Putin like he was giving him the lifetime achievement award. What a Kremlin kiss a** our president is,” wrote Rep. Eric Swalwell (D- CA).
In contrast, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) stated that Trump’s military display when Putin landed was a clear message of power.
"President Trump, I think, is just crystal clear that Putin's back is against the wall and I think he demonstrated that clearness with his very first action before saying a word with the fact that he flew B-2 bombers over [Putin's] head," Mast told Fox News. "That was not on accident, obviously. For him to fly a B-2 bomber over Vladimir Putin's head, it was a signal to him that when President Trump says, 'Hey there could be very serious consequences.'"
Rep. Andy Ogles said that he nominated Trump for his much-longed-for Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, President Trump did what no world leader could—brought Russia & the U.S. back to the table. From the Abraham Accords to North Korea, his record is peace through strength. I’m drafting his Nobel Peace Prize nomination now. Stay Tuned."