On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged what he described as sincere efforts by the United States to help end the war in Ukraine. He also raised the possibility of a nuclear arms agreement ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump. European leaders, meanwhile, are urging Trump to remain firm during the discussions.
Putin addressed his top ministers and national security advisors as he readied for Friday’s summit with Trump, set to take place in Anchorage, Alaska. The meeting could prove crucial in shaping the outcome of the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The summit comes amid a renewed push by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European partners to avoid any settlement that would cede Ukrainian territory to Russia or leave Ukraine exposed to future threats.
In televised remarks, Putin said:
“The U.S. was ‘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’.”He added that these efforts aim:
“to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole – if, by the next stages, we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons.”
His comments indicate that Moscow plans to include nuclear arms control in the broader conversation about international security during the first U.S.-Russia summit since June 2021.
An Eastern European official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, said Putin might try to shift Trump’s attention away from Ukraine by offering proposals related to nuclear arms or economic cooperation.
“We hope Trump won’t be fooled by the Russians, he understands all (these) dangerous things,” the official said.
“The only strategic goal for the Russians is not to receive new sanctions, and to lift the sanctions that the U.S. and others (imposed) previously. The Russians have no other big goals now. They think they will find a way to take all of Ukraine in one way or another,” the source added.
According to Ukraine’s allies, Trump has shown interest in supporting some form of security assurances for Kyiv—a potentially meaningful, though still undefined, pledge that could offer Ukraine a measure of hope.
During a last-minute virtual conference with European leaders and Zelenskyy on Wednesday, Trump reportedly expressed support for guarantees, though he made no public remarks on the issue afterward.
Following a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Zelenskyy stated:
“Yesterday, together with all our partners, and today in a bilateral format, we discussed expectations for the meeting in Alaska and possible prospects.”“We also discussed in considerable detail the security guarantees that can make peace truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killings and engage in genuine, substantive diplomacy.”
The timing of the summit is critical for Ukraine, which has endured massive casualties and displacement since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after the Wednesday meeting, said Trump made clear that NATO should not play a direct role in any future security guarantees.
“President Trump also stated this clearly, saying things that I find important: namely, that NATO should not be part of these security guarantees – and we know this is a key point, particularly for the Russian side – but (also) that the United States and all willing allies should be part of them. That is what we are committed to,” Macron said.
A European official familiar with the discussions said Trump, during the call, indicated a willingness to offer some form of guarantees for Europe—his most explicit stance on the matter since talks began in March under the initiative led by Britain and France.
“It felt like a big step forward,” the official noted.
The specific nature of these guarantees remains unclear.
On Wednesday, Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Putin refuses to agree to peace. While he did not elaborate on the nature of these consequences, he has previously threatened further economic sanctions if talks do not succeed.
Still, Russia appears unlikely to meet Ukrainian and European demands. Moscow has consistently stuck to the terms first outlined by Putin in June 2024.
A Kremlin advisor said the summit would also include discussions on “huge untapped potential” in U.S.-Russia trade relations, along with talks aimed at ending the war.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy reported that Russian troops had advanced approximately 9–10 kilometres near Dobropillia in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, forcing Kyiv to deploy reserve forces to stabilise the front.
Trump has floated the idea of a land swap as part of a possible peace agreement. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, and such a deal could formalize Moscow’s territorial gains.
However, Zelenskyy and European leaders argue that any settlement involving land concessions would reward over a decade of Russian aggression and set a dangerous precedent for future expansion westward into Europe.
