Russia is awaiting a response to President Vladimir Putin's initiative to extend the new strategic arms reduction treaty (New START), the only remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Moskva and Washington. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of this issue on 15/1.

New START, signed by Russia and the US in 2010, became effective in 2011. It was extended for 5 years in 2021 and is set to expire on 5/2. In 9/2025, President Putin proposed extending the treaty for one year to facilitate negotiations for a new nuclear arms agreement, urging the US to follow suit.

However, President Donald Trump has indicated the US will not extend the current treaty. On 7/1, he stated, "If it expires, let it expire. We will sign a better deal."

President Putin (left) and President Trump. Photo: AFP

Responding to questions about a replacement treaty, Peskov acknowledged the need for a document more beneficial to all parties. He stressed, however, that "achieving such a treaty is an extremely complex and time-consuming process."

Peskov also reiterated Russia's position that any discussions on strategic security and stability must include the nuclear arsenals of Britain and France.

The White House has not yet commented on these statements.

Under New START, each side is limited to deploying no more than 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles (icbm), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (slbm), and nuclear-capable bombers. The treaty also restricts the number of nuclear warheads on these delivery systems to 1,550.

Without an extension or replacement agreement, both Russia and the US could exceed these limits.

Huyen Le (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters, Newsweek)