MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 14 recognized the “energetic and sincere efforts” of the US administration to end the conflict in Ukraine, raising hopes for progress ahead of his summit with US President Donald Trump scheduled for August 15 in Alaska.
Addressing Russia’s top military and civilian leadership at the Kremlin, Putin stated that discussions with the United States are focused on halting hostilities and reaching agreements beneficial to all parties involved in the Ukraine conflict. He emphasized that these negotiations aim to establish long-term peace conditions between the two nations and across Europe.
Further, Putin proposed the possibility of a deal on nuclear arms control as a future stage of talks — highlighting the importance of strategic offensive arms agreements for global security. The two nations currently hold the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, and the key treaty governing their control, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), is set to expire in February 2026.
The upcoming summit in Anchorage will be Putin’s first visit to American soil in nearly a decade and marks a significant diplomatic occasion amid the volatile situation in Ukraine. US President Trump expressed optimism about the talks, indicating that the meeting could set the stage for a subsequent three-way summit including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aiming to finalize peace terms.
However, Kyiv remains cautious and has explicitly rejected any peace deal that excludes its involvement or demands territorial concessions to Russia without binding security guarantees. European allies have echoed these concerns, warning against agreements that might undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
As the world watches closely, Friday’s summit carries weighty implications for ending Europe’s largest conflict since World War II and shaping the future of global arms control.