Russia Says Peace Momentum After Putin-Trump Alaska Summit Has “Largely Exhausted”
Russia announced on Wednesday that the momentum for achieving a peace agreement in Ukraine, which followed the summit in Alaska between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump earlier this year, has been “largely exhausted.”
The summit, held in Anchorage on August 15, marked the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the start of the Ukraine war. Despite early optimism, unresolved disputes over territorial exchanges and security guarantees for Ukraine with Europe prevented any concrete peace accord. Trump later described Russia as a “paper tiger” and considered providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles capable of striking targets deep inside Russian territory.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that “the powerful impetus of Anchorage in favor of agreements has been largely exhausted by the efforts of opponents and supporters of the war to the last Ukrainian among Europeans,” blaming “destructive activity, primarily by Europeans.”
Ryabkov also addressed the issue of nuclear arms control, noting that Washington has yet to respond to Putin’s proposal to voluntarily uphold the New START Treaty’s limits for an additional year beyond its February 2026 expiration—provided the US takes no destabilizing actions. Trump, for his part, appeared open to the idea, telling reporters: “Sounds like a good idea to me.”
The Russian official confirmed that while periodic contacts between Moscow and Washington continue on prisoner exchanges, there has been “no movement” toward a peace deal. He warned the US to act “soberly and responsibly” regarding possible deliveries of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, stressing such use would require the direct involvement of American personnel and would have “grave consequences.”
Ryabkov also said Moscow would respond in kind to any new EU restrictions on Russian diplomats’ movements. The Financial Times recently reported that EU member states agreed to limit Russian diplomats’ travel within the bloc, citing increased concerns over sabotage and espionage operations under diplomatic cover.
