A potential reduction in American and Russian nuclear arsenals is a topic of discussion between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin. Trump revealed that the two leaders explored this possibility on the condition that it would happen after the Ukraine crisis ends.
This significant disclosure emerged as Trump spoke to reporters about his recent diplomatic activities. He stated that the conversation about nuclear weapons took place during a meeting with Putin in the U.S. state of Alaska on August 15.
The revelation provided a backdrop to a more recent phone call between Trump and Putin. That call was placed after the U.S. President met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on August 18 to discuss Ukraine’s security.
In that later call, the focus was on security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump conveyed that he expects Europe to spearhead these efforts, with the United States offering support in a “backup” capacity, although the final details remain under discussion.