MOSCOW/WASHINGTON: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed cautious optimism about improving relations with the United States, crediting President Donald Trump for what he called a potential turning point in bilateral ties. Meanwhile, Trump appeared increasingly uncertain about the outcome of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, just days after the high-profile Alaska Summit failed to break diplomatic deadlock.
Acknowledging the deep freeze in U.S.–Russia relations, Putin told nuclear industry workers in Sarov — the birthplace of the Soviet atomic program — that Trump’s return to power offers hope.
“Our relations with the United States are at an extremely low level — I have said this many times,” Putin said in televised remarks. “However, there is light at the end of the tunnel now that President Trump has come to power.”
Trump Pressures Putin, Zelenskyy for Meeting
As Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump’s confidence appears to be waning. Once boastful about ending the war in “24 hours,” Trump now admits the situation is more complex than anticipated.
“I’m not happy about anything regarding that war — nothing,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office briefing. “I think over the next two weeks, we’re going to find out which way it’s going to go, and I better be very happy.”
Trump reiterated that he expects a decision within two weeks on whether to pursue new sanctions or tariffs against Russia — or possibly take no further action. “If they don’t meet, I want to know why. I told them to have a meeting,” he said. “But I’ll know what I’m going to do in two weeks.”
Alaska Summit Aftermath and Geopolitical Tensions
The comments follow the Alaska Summit on August 15, where Putin and Trump met but made limited progress. Putin later echoed Trump’s post-summit claim that the Ukraine war “would never have started” if Trump had been in office during 2022, further fueling speculation about a potential diplomatic thaw.
Despite the strained ties, Putin revealed that Russia and the U.S. are discussing cooperation in the Arctic, including joint work in Alaska. “We are discussing with our American partners the possibility of working together in this field — not only in our Arctic zone but also in Alaska,” he said.
Relations between Washington and Moscow have sharply deteriorated in recent years over NATO’s eastward expansion, the war in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and disputes in global energy markets. The conflict — now entering its fourth year — has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
While both Trump and Putin claim interest in de-escalation, the lack of a scheduled meeting between Moscow and Kyiv — and Trump’s increasingly hedged statements — suggest a diplomatic breakthrough remains elusive.
