Putin Praises Trump’s ‘Sincere’ Peace Efforts, Signals Possible U.S.-Russia Nuclear Deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled on Thursday that he may be prepared to strike a new nuclear deal with the United States, just one day before his high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump in Alaska. Speaking on Russian television, Putin lauded Trump’s diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine, describing Washington’s involvement as “sincere” and “energetic” in trying to bring hostilities to a close after more than three years of conflict.
“They are 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. His remarks came alongside hints that Moscow is open to fresh agreements on the control of strategic nuclear weapons, a signal that the upcoming summit could extend beyond Ukraine and reshape the global security landscape.
The two nations still hold the world’s largest nuclear stockpiles, and the existing New START treaty capping strategic warheads at 1,550 each is set to expire in February. The pressure to either renew or replace the accord adds enormous weight to Friday’s Anchorage talks, which mark the first U.S.-Russia summit since June 2021. That earlier meeting came just months before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the breakdown of East-West relations.
Recent weeks have seen tensions rise, as Trump ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines closer to Russian waters following what the White House called “highly provocative statements” from a former Russian leader. The Kremlin responded by cautioning all sides to be “very, very careful” about nuclear rhetoric. Against this backdrop, Trump’s Alaska summit represents both a potential breakthrough and a dangerous gamble if talks collapse.
Trump has made clear he expects progress on ending the Ukraine war, warning Putin of “very severe consequences” should Moscow reject peace. While the president has not detailed what such consequences would entail, his administration has emphasized that time is running out for Russia to show good faith.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains skeptical. Writing on X Wednesday, he said, “I see no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war.” Zelenskyy has spent the week shoring up international support, meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Alongside them, French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing,” a bloc of nations backing Ukraine. Vice President JD Vance and Special Presidential Envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg represented the United States at the gathering.
With Putin extending an olive branch on nuclear arms control and Trump determined to broker peace in Ukraine, the Alaska summit is shaping up as one of the most pivotal diplomatic showdowns of Trump’s presidency. The outcome could determine not only the fate of the Ukraine war but also the balance of nuclear power for years to come.