You’ve probably seen the photos. They’ve been everywhere—blistering across Telegram, lighting up X, and leading every evening news broadcast from Moscow to Miami. It’s the image of crisp, uniformed American service members standing on a windswept tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. They aren't there for a drill. They’re kneeling. They are pulling at the heavy, crimson fabric of a formal rug.
The red carpet Putin soldiers moment in August 2025 wasn't just another diplomatic photo-op. Honestly, it felt like a glitch in the collective memory of anyone who has followed the last three years of global conflict. Seeing Russian President Vladimir Putin step off his plane onto American soil—for the first time in nearly twenty years—was weird enough. But seeing the "Butcher of Bucha" greeted with the kind of pomp usually reserved for a liberating hero? That’s what set the world on fire.
The Alaska Summit: Why the Carpet Mattered
Protocol is a boring word for a very high-stakes game. In the world of international relations, every inch of fabric and every tilt of a chin means something. When President Donald Trump decided to host Putin in Alaska, he didn't just want a meeting; he wanted a spectacle.
He got it.
The presence of the red carpet Putin soldiers—specifically the U.S. Marines and Air Force personnel tasked with the ceremonial rollout—became a lightning rod for criticism. Why? Because the red carpet isn't just a floor covering. Historically, it’s a symbol of sovereign respect. By rolling it out, the U.S. was signaling, at least visually, that Putin’s status as an international pariah (complete with an ICC warrant) was effectively over.
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Russian state media, predictably, lost their minds with joy. Maria Zakharova, the Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, basically took a victory lap on Telegram, mocking Western media for their "madness" after years of claiming Russia was isolated. To the Kremlin, those soldiers kneeling to smooth the carpet weren't just doing their jobs. They were "bowing" to the Russian leader.
Who are the Soldiers Involved?
When we talk about the red carpet Putin soldiers, we’re usually looking at two different groups.
First, there’s the Presidential Regiment (the Kremlin Regiment). These guys are the elite of the elite in Russia. They wear uniforms that look like they were pulled straight from 1914, complete with high boots and shakos. Their job is to protect the Kremlin and stand at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They are tall, precisely drilled, and basically the human embodiment of "Russian Greatness." Whenever Putin is at home, these are the soldiers flanking the red carpet.
Then, you have the soldiers from the Alaska summit. These were American service members.
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- The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Honor Guard: These are the airmen and soldiers stationed in Anchorage who are trained for "Base Honors."
- The Logistics: It takes a team to manage a presidential arrival. Rolling out a carpet that long, in Alaskan wind, while F-22 Raptors are screaming overhead in a flypast? It’s a lot of work.
The backlash was brutal. Veterans on social media were livid, calling the sight of American troops "beautifying" the path for Putin a national embarrassment. But from a purely military standpoint, those soldiers were following orders. In the military, you don't pick and choose which visiting dignitary you "honor." You follow the protocol set by the Commander-in-Chief.
Legitimacy Through Pageantry
Let’s be real: Putin didn't go to Alaska for a peace deal. He went for the photos.
The red carpet Putin soldiers provided the one thing sanctions couldn't touch—global legitimacy. While the talks themselves were described as "muted" and ended without a breakthrough on the Ukraine war, the optics were a 10/10 for the Kremlin.
Think about the contrast. In February 2025, Trump had been notoriously "curt" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Fast forward to August, and he’s clapping on a tarmac as Putin descends the stairs. The red carpet was the physical bridge between being a "war criminal" and being a "partner for peace."
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What Most People Get Wrong
There is a common misconception that the soldiers were "kneeling" out of respect.
No.
If you watch the footage carefully, they were kneeling to physically unroll and secure the carpet against the wind. It’s a technical requirement of the job. But in the age of the 5-second viral clip, context doesn't matter. The image of an American soldier on one knee in front of a Russian leader is a propaganda goldmine. It doesn't matter if he's holding a carpet edge or his heart; the silhouette is what sticks.
Key Takeaways from the "Red Carpet Diplomacy"
- Symbols are Weapons: In modern geopolitics, a photo of a soldier is often more powerful than a battalion of tanks.
- Protocol is Policy: Choosing to provide full military honors is a deliberate policy choice to normalize relations.
- The Domestic Split: The event highlighted the massive divide in the U.S. regarding how to handle the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Moving Forward: What This Means for You
The fallout from the red carpet Putin soldiers incident is still settling. If you're trying to make sense of why this matters today, look at the upcoming NATO summits. The images from Alaska have made European allies incredibly nervous. They see the red carpet not as a path to peace, but as a "funeral shroud" for international law.
If you want to track how this affects the actual war, keep an eye on the "Pursuing Peace" backdrop that was used during the summit. It’s the new branding for a potential deal that might force Ukraine to concede territory—a deal that started with a carpet rollout in Anchorage.
To stay informed on the shifting landscape of U.S.-Russia relations, you should monitor the official statements from the Department of Defense regarding "Ceremonial Support" for foreign leaders. Understanding the difference between a "working visit" (no carpet) and a "state visit" (full honors) will tell you everything you need to know about where the White House stands before the next meeting even starts.