Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow and Washington could reach an agreement on nuclear arms control if ongoing talks progress in the coming stages. Addressing senior military and civilian officials at the Kremlin, Putin commended what he described as “energetic and sincere efforts” by the United States to end the war in Ukraine. He noted that future discussions could include strategic offensive arms control, a development that would carry global security implications.

The statement comes as the New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between Russia and the United States, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. The treaty currently limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads for both countries, and its potential lapse has raised concerns over an unchecked arms race.

While indicating a willingness to engage in nuclear talks, Putin maintained that Russia’s conditions for peace in Ukraine remain unchanged. These include the full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from contested territories and a formal renunciation of NATO membership by Kyiv.

In a parallel development, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed offering security guarantees for Ukraine, though specific details have yet to be outlined. Trump’s remarks were made during a virtual meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, ahead of a high-stakes summit between the U.S. and Russia in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15.

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy dismissed Putin’s overtures as a “bluff,” claiming Russia was increasing military pressure in the lead-up to the summit. He warned that the Kremlin’s peace signals might be a tactic to influence negotiations in its favor.

The Alaska summit will mark the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and Trump since 2019 and the first U.S.-hosted meeting of its kind since 1988. Global attention is focused on whether the talks will yield progress on both the Ukraine conflict and the future of nuclear arms control, with potential ramifications for European and global security.