The Russia-Ukraine war, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, has fueled nuclear concerns across the globe. The invasion of Ukraine strained already-frayed relations between Russia and the U.S., as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ), a military alliance of the U.S., Canada and European allies.

The Kremlin said on Friday that it did not believe that a tougher stance U.S. President Donald Trump has adopted towards Russia over its war in Ukraine means the end of U.S-Russia talks aimed at reviving their battered ties.