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Russian state TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov warned that Russia could destroy the United States with nuclear strikes ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
Solovyov made this statement in response to Trump’s threat of consequences if Putin does not agree to end the war in Ukraine at their meeting on Friday. The Russian presenter said, “We can destroy all of them with nuclear weapons,” according to a translation from Russian Media Monitor.
Trump has signaled a tough stance going into the talks, saying there will be “severe consequences” for Putin if there is no end to the fighting in Ukraine. Solovyov speculated that these consequences would likely be economic.
During his show “Full Contact” on Thursday, Solovyov said: “No one has the right to impose their will upon the president of the Russian Federation, who is elected by the Russian people. When Trump suddenly starts acting as though he can give us directives and is threatening us, we can actually destroy America…America can destroy us as well, but we can do it faster and more effectively.”
Russian state TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov said: “There will be consequences—sanctions? Tariffs?… Yes there will be severe consequences, we will destroy all of Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram: “Putin is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. He is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine.”
President Donald Trump said: “Well, you’re looking at territory that’s been fought over for 3 1/2 years…you know, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died. So we’re looking at that, but we’re actually looking to get some back. Some swapping. It’s complicated…but we’re going to get some back, we’re going to get some switched.”
The one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin will be followed by delegation talks and a joint press conference. Analysts warned that any U.S.-Russia agreement excluding Kyiv could undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and splinter Western unity.
Protesters in Anchorage have already shown their support for Ukraine in the run-up to the meeting. The outcome of this summit is likely to shape the course of U.S.-Russia relations as well as the outcome of the war in Ukraine.
