Abstract
We present a generalization the G. Letzter's theory of quantum symmetric pairs of semisimple Lie algebras for the case of quantum affine algebras. We then study solutions of the reflection equation for the quantum affine algebras sl(2) and gl(1|1) and their Yangian limit for singlet (diagonal) and vector (non-diagonal) boundary conditions. We construct the corresponding quantum affine coideal subalgebras that are based on the quantum symmetric pairs, and the (generalized) twisted Yangians.