Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he is ready to extend the last arms control treaty between Washington and Moscow limiting the number of nuclear weapons for one year if US President Donald Trump does the same.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. The agreement limits the number of strategic nuclear weapons that the United States and Russia can deploy and the number of land-based, submarine-launched missiles and bombs that can deliver them.
There are more than four months left before it expires. Russia and the United States have not begun talks to renew or amend the treaty due to differences over the war in Ukraine, although Trump has spoken of a desire to sign a new nuclear arms control agreement that would also include China.
Putin told a meeting of Russia’s Security Council that he was ready to extend New START for a year in the interests of global non-proliferation and to help promote talks with Washington on the treaty’s successor, provided that Trump was also willing to do the same.
“Russia is ready to continue to adhere to the central numerical limits under the New START treaty for one year after February 5, 2026. Later, based on an analysis of the situation, we will decide on maintaining these self-imposed restrictions,” the Russian president said.