Alaska summit signals possible arms talks

Putin uses the Alaska summit to signal openness to arms talks with the United States while Ukraine diplomacy remains unsettled.

Putin praises Trump's peace efforts and hints at potential nuclear deal at Alaska summit

Putin, speaking at a Kremlin meeting, praised the current American administration for energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities in Ukraine and said the Alaska summit aims to create long term conditions for peace. He indicated that in the next stages of talks with the United States, agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons could be reached.

The article notes that the New START treaty, which governs deployed nuclear arsenals, is due to expire in February 2026. It also references Trump’s order to position two nuclear submarines near Russia in response to what he described as provocative remarks by Dmitry Medvedev. Further, Ushakov outlined that the talks will begin with a one-on-one session followed by a business lunch, with a focus on Ukraine and potential cooperation in trade and economic issues. Ukraine and Europe were not invited to the summit, raising concerns about possible concessions.

The Alaska gathering illustrates how diplomacy often blends tone with leverage. Putin frames arms-control talks as part of broader peace efforts to project a constructive path forward while avoiding a concrete commitment on Ukraine. The exclusion of Kyiv signals a power calculus that could redefine who is at the negotiating table.

If any real progress materializes, verification will be essential. With New START due to expire, time pressure could push both sides toward agreements that look cooperative on paper but are hard to verify in practice. European leaders and Kyiv will watch closely to determine whether the summit yields tangible steps or simply optics that buyers time for political maneuvering.

Highlights

Rhetoric will meet real consequences only if actions follow.