“The current American administration is making… quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities,” Putin said, signaling a rare moment of diplomatic optimism.

The two leaders are set to meet privately with only translators present, before continuing over a working lunch. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the agenda will focus on Ukraine, trade, and possible nuclear arms control deals.

But the stakes are enormous. The New START treaty, the last remaining arms reduction pact between the U.S. and Russia, expires in February 2026. Trump recently revealed he had positioned two nuclear submarines near Russia in response to threatening remarks from Russian official Dmitry Medvedev.

European leaders have been scrambling to influence Trump ahead of the talks, fearing Ukraine could be pressured into concessions without their involvement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed not to surrender territory