Kremlin Calls President Putin's Hand-Wrest New START Proposal To The United States
JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin "grabbed out" to the United States with his proposal on the future of the Strategic Arms Reduction Agreement (New START), said Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
"This is a very complex matter. In this case, of course, President Putin extended his hand. However, there is one important thing: all of our proposals, and Putin's good political intentions, will only remain in effect if Washington takes a suitable stance," Peskov explained in an interview with RBC radio. , quoted from TASS September 24.
Asked if Moscow had received a response from Washington, Peskov noted "appearing it, Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine President) did not give President Donald Trump the opportunity to formulate a stance in response to President Putin's initiative."
Peskov stressed that the topic of strategic stability and security as well as "the end of fundamental bilateral documents in this area" had been raised in Putin-Trump negotiations, but "there was no substantive discussion."
On September 22, in a meeting with the Russian Security Council, President Putin said Russia was ready to continue to adhere to the main quantitative limits set in it for one year after the end of the Strategic Offensive Weapons Agreement in February 2026, but at the same time stressed that Russia's compliance with New START restrictions is only possible if the United States agrees to do the same.
President Putin said his proposal was in the interest of global non-proliferation and could help push for dialogue with Washington on arms control.
The New START Agreement includes strategic nuclear weapons designed by each party to attack enemy military, economic and political power centers and limit the number of warheads deployed to 1,550 on each side. Both are likely to violate these limits if this agreement is not extended or replaced.
SEE ALSO:
Russia and the United States so far have the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The last remaining agreement between those limiting this number of weapons will end on February 5 next year.