Kremlin Welcomes Trump's Positive Remarks on New START Treaty Extension

Kremlin Expresses Optimism Following Trump's Comments

The Kremlin on Monday welcomed comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning Russia's proposal to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Trump's remarks 'give grounds for optimism that the United States will support President Putin's initiative.' This reaction comes after Trump indicated that Russia's offer to prolong the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the two nations 'sounds like a good idea to me.'

Russia's Proposal for a One-Year Extension

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously declared his readiness to adhere to the nuclear arms limits under the 2010 New START treaty for an additional year, urging Washington to follow suit. Putin made this offer during a September 22 Russian Security Council meeting, emphasizing that a complete renunciation of the treaty's legacy would be a 'grave and short-sighted mistake' with 'adverse implications for the objectives of the .' The Russian leader reaffirmed this offer, noting that a one-year extension could provide time for Russia and the U.S. to work on a possible successor pact.

Understanding the New START Treaty

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), signed in Prague on April 8, 2010, and entering into force on February 5, 2011, is a crucial bilateral arms control agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation. It limits each country to:

• 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads
• 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers

The treaty was originally set to expire in February 2021 but was extended for five years until February 4, 2026, by Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in 2021. Although Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023, it pledged to continue abiding by its central limits.

Implications for Global Stability and Future Negotiations

Putin has argued that the expiration of New START would be destabilizing and could fuel the proliferation of nuclear weapons. He also suggested that maintaining limits could be an important step in 'creating an atmosphere conducive to substantive strategic dialogue with the U.S.' Future discussions, according to Putin, could involve complex talks dealing with battlefield nuclear weapons and prospective strategic weapons systems developed by Russia. The Russian side has also consistently pushed for the inclusion of other nuclear powers, such as China, Britain, and France, in any prospective arms control agreements, an idea that China has previously rejected due to its comparatively smaller arsenal.