(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump announced Monday that discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on curbing nuclear weapons, with an emphasis on including China in disarmament talks.

"We are talking about limiting nuclear weapons. We will get China into that," Trump told reporters during a briefing in the Oval Office. He highlighted the current nuclear hierarchy: "We have the most. Russia has the second most, and China has third."

While acknowledging China’s smaller arsenal, Trump stressed its rapid growth: "China is way behind, but they will catch us in five years."

Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reveals that Russia and the US hold nearly 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons, with China estimated to have at least 600 warheads.

In separate remarks while hosting South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung, Trump called the denuclearization effort "a very ... big game," adding, “Russia's willing to do it, and I think China's going to be willing to do it.”

Trump underscored the urgency of preventing nuclear proliferation: “We have to stop nuclear weapons. The power is too great.”

Highlighting Putin's recent trip to Alaska on August 15, Trump said, "The fact that he went to Alaska, our country, I think, was a big statement that he wants to get it done."

However, the president voiced frustration over Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine: "Every conversation I have with him is a good conversation. And then, unfortunately, a bomb is loaded up into Kiev ... and then I would get very angry," Trump said.

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