Trump-Putin Alaska summit: Meet the heavyweight Russian delegation at the high-stakes talks on Ukraine’s fate in the former Russian colony

The Kremlin has unveiled the names of the senior officials who will accompany Russian President Vladimir Putin to his highly anticipated August 15 summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska.

These senior figures in Moscow’s political and economic apparatus will accompany Vladimir Putin to Alaska for his first in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump in six years and the first since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.

The meeting will begin with a one-on-one session between Trump and Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Kremlin says discussions will focus on Ukraine, economic cooperation, and global security, though no formal agreements are expected to be signed.

Who is in this powerful Russian delegation?

According to Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, as reported by the Kyiv Independent, the Russian delegation will include Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev.

This list does not include former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who recently engaged in a war of words with the US president.

Yuri Ushakov – The Diplomatic Strategist

A veteran diplomat and former Russian ambassador to the United States (1998–2008), Ushakov has served as President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide since 2012. Widely regarded for his behind-the-scenes influence, he plays a pivotal role in shaping Moscow’s strategic engagement with Washington. He is often instrumental in framing Russia’s negotiating stance ahead of high-level meetings.

An Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, Ushakov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and holds a Ph.D. in History.

Over his career, he has held senior diplomatic posts, including Director of the Department of Pan-European Cooperation, Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States.

He has also served at the Soviet embassy in Denmark and as the Deputy Head of the Russian Federation's government apparatus.

Sergey Lavrov – The Diplomatic Heavyweight

Serving as foreign minister since 2004, Lavrov is one of the world's most well-known faces and also one of the longest-serving foreign ministers.

Renowned for his sharp rhetoric and seasoned negotiating skills, he has been a central figure in Russia’s foreign relations for two decades, including during the annexation of Crimea and the Ukraine conflict.

Born on March 21, 1950, in Moscow, he graduated in 1972 from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the USSR Foreign Ministry. His early career included a posting to the Soviet Embassy in Sri Lanka (1972–1976) and work in the Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Economic Organisations (1976–1981).

From 1981 to 1988, he served as First Secretary, Adviser, and Senior Adviser to the Soviet mission to the UN. He later became Deputy Head and then Head of the Ministry’s Department of International Organisations, before being appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1992.

Between 1994 and 2004, he was Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN. On March 9, 2004, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he has held since, with reappointments in 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2024.

Andrei Belousov – The Economist Defense Minister

An economist by training, Belousov became defence minister in 2024 after years as an economic adviser and first deputy prime minister. His appointment marked a shift toward aligning Russia’s economic strategy with its defence priorities, especially under wartime sanctions.

Born on 17 March 1959 in Moscow to an economist father and a radiochemist mother, Belousov graduated in economics from Moscow State University in 1981. After an academic career, he began advising Russian prime ministers in the late 1990s and earned a PhD in 2006.

He served as minister for economic development in 2012, became Putin’s aide in 2013, and was appointed first deputy prime minister in 2020.

A staunch Putin loyalist, he was reportedly the only senior economic adviser to back the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Known for defending state interests over private business, Belousov has pushed for strict regulation, higher government investment, and greater state control of the economy.

Anton Siluanov – The Kremlin’s Finance Minister

As finance minister since 2011, Siluanov oversees Russia’s fiscal policy, budget management, and economic resilience under sanctions. He has been instrumental in steering the Russian economy through turbulent years and ensuring funding for military and strategic priorities.

Born on April 12, 1963, in Moscow, Siluanov graduated in finance and credit from the Moscow Finance Institute in 1985. He began his career at the Finance Ministry of the RSFSR, served in the Soviet Army, and rose steadily through key budget and macroeconomic posts in the Finance Ministry.

By 2003, he headed the Department for Macroeconomic Policy and Banking, later serving as deputy finance minister and acting finance minister.

Appointed minister in 2011, he also served as first deputy prime minister from 2018 to 2020 before returning to head the finance ministry, a position reaffirmed in May 2024.

Kirill Dmitriev – The Kremlin’s Global Deal Maker

Since 2011, Dmitriev has been CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). He has led major investment partnerships and deals with global corporations such as General Electric, Société Générale, and Fidelity. A former Goldman Sachs and McKinsey professional, he sits on the BRICS and APEC Business Councils and the boards of leading Russian companies.

He also supports cultural and educational institutions, including the Mariinsky Theatre and Moscow State University.

A Stanford and Harvard Business School graduate, Dmitriev has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a ‘Young Global Leader’ and named among the world’s most influential private equity professionals, receiving multiple national awards from Russia and abroad.