Meeting Trump, Putin Will Discuss Nuclear Weapons Agreement In Addition To The Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin/PHOTO via Instagram @russian_kremlin

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States was making "sincere efforts" to stop the war in Ukraine.

Putin suggested Moscow and Washington could agree on a nuclear weapons deal as part of a broader effort to strengthen peace.

This was conveyed by Putin to his ministers and most senior security officials ahead of the summit in Alaska with US President Donald Trump Friday, August 15 tomorrow.

"In my opinion, the US is making quite an energetic and sincere effort to stop hostilities, stop the crisis, and reach an agreement that benefits all parties involved in this conflict," Putin said.

"This is to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole - if, in the next stage, we reach an agreement in the field of strategic offensive arms control," Putin continued.

Putin's remarks hinted Russia would raise the issue of nuclear arms control as part of a broad discussion of security when meeting Trump for its first Russia-US summit since June 2021.

Putin's adviser, Yuri Ushakov, previously said Putin and Trump would also discuss the huge potential that has not been utilized for Russia-US economic relations, as well as prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.

Ushakov said Ukraine would be the focus of the meeting, but broader security and international issues would also be discussed.

"The exchange of views is expected to develop further bilateral cooperation, including in the trade and economic fields. I want to note that this collaboration has enormous potential, and unfortunately it has not been exploited," Ushakov said.