In a major revelation, President Donald Trump disclosed that he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska about nuclear arms reduction, a disclosure made while updating the press on his diplomatic efforts concerning Ukraine.
The Alaska meeting took place on August 15, and the discussion about reducing nuclear arsenals was presented as a potential long-term outcome following the end of the Ukraine war.
This information provides a new context for Trump’s more recent diplomatic actions, including a phone call with Putin. That call was placed after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on August 18.
In the discussions about Ukraine’s immediate future, Trump has been advocating for a security model where Europe takes the lead. He has stated the U.S. would act as “backup” to this European-led effort.