Russian President Vladimir Putin praised what he described as the Trump administration’s “energetic” and “sincere” attempts to bring an end to the fighting in Ukraine — and hinted that the two nations might secure a new nuclear arms control arrangement during their upcoming summit in Alaska on Friday.
Speaking to top Russian officials on Thursday, Putin voiced optimism that the meetings scheduled in Anchorage between Moscow and Washington could “create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, as well as in Europe, and in the world as a whole.”
“The current American administration… is making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict,” Putin said, according to CNN.
Putin suggested that a peace settlement could be within reach if the United States and Russia manage to “reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons,” a clear reference to nuclear arsenals.
The most significant existing framework for that goal is the New START treaty, signed in 2011, which set limits on strategic nuclear weapons. The pact is set to expire on February 5, 2026.
The New START agreement has come under strain during Russia’s war in Ukraine and has been effectively dormant since February, when Putin declared that Russia would no longer honor its commitments under the treaty.
Under its terms, each nation is restricted to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. The deal also required on-site inspections in both countries, a practice suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and never reinstated.
Despite Putin’s conciliatory tone, his reputation as an ex-KGB operative and skilled manipulator has left many wary of his intentions.
Trump has expressed growing irritation with Putin, accusing him of stalling and feeding him “garbage.”
“We get a lot of bulls–t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said last month.
“He’s very nice all of the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
According to a U.S. official familiar with the matter, Trump’s chief objective for Friday’s talks is to secure a cease-fire. Still, the source noted he is “not very optimistic” that Putin will shift his position.
Reports indicate that Putin has been insisting Ukraine relinquish substantial portions of territory that Russia claims — but has failed to capture militarily — as part of any lasting settlement.
On a call Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, Trump reaffirmed that halting the fighting was his top priority and made clear he would not entertain discussions over ceding Ukrainian land, sources said.
If the summit fails to produce a cease-fire, Trump has warned there would be “severe consequences” for Moscow.
The White House said Zelensky will not participate in Friday’s meeting because the gathering was Putin’s proposal.
According to White House officials, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had initially suggested a three-way meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky at Trump’s request. Putin, however, countered with the idea of a one-on-one session.
{Matzav.com}
Nuclear negotiations must be a trilateral negotiation with USA-Russia-China.
Anything less only hamstrings the USA while emboldening China.