As the Biden White House looks to unlock years of stalled nuclear arms negotiations with China and Russia, Senator Pete Ricketts is clearly skeptical, as made evident by an exchange with Deputy Secretary of State and Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan.

According to recent reports, the U.S. and Russia have been any meaningful talks on the far back burner, as the last known agreement—the New START Treaty—is scheduled to expire in early 2026. 

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The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns regarding Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons.

Sen. Pete Ricketts: "Ambassador Sullivan, I thought it was interesting you said Putin believes he's at war with the United States and certainly that is the way he is behaving.

Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts questioning the Biden administration's strategy in dealing with Russia's ability to live up to nuclear treaties such as the new START treaty.

Ricketts: So, Secretary Blinken has said we will maintain the restrictions of the new START treaty. What I hear you saying is that you think we should do live to those restrictions.

Ambassador John Sullivan: And the Russians have said they will as well what they have done, as I understand it, is there are inspections that are required under the treaty. The Russians won't allow us to inspect their facilities and we're not going to let the and Russians in if they're not going to let us in."

That raises even more questions about former President Donald Trump's refusal to say that Ukraine should win its war with Russia.

CNN: "Can you say if you want Russia or Ukraine to win the war?

Trump: I want everybody to stop dying. They're dying, Russians and Ukraine. I want them to stop dying and I'll have that done. I'll have that done in 24 hours. You need the power of the presidency to do it.

CNN: But you won't say you want Ukraine to win.

Trump: You know what I'll say I'll say this. I want Europe to put up more money."

That led to another exchange between Ricketts and Sullivan.

Ricketts: "How can we possibly trust anything (the Russians) would say?

Sullivan: So, so that was my point in my opening statement. Trust but verify? There's no trust.”