Russia Ready To Continue Dialogue With US On Nuclear Weapons Restrictions

JAKARTA - Russia is ready to resume dialogue with the United States on nuclear weapons restrictions, if appropriate requirements are prepared, Russia's Permanent Deputy for the Geneva-based international organization Gennady Gatilov said.

"Russia is ready to resume dialogue with the United States on reducing nuclear weapons if appropriate requirements are available," the Russian diplomat said, launching TASS November 20.

"To create conditions for such dialogue, Russia has announced its readiness to continue to adhere to key quantitative limits in the New START Agreement for another year after February 5, 2026."

"This measure will only be effective if the United States acts accordingly and does not use measures that undermine the balance of existing prevention capabilities. After all, 'two parties need to negotiate'," he continued.

"We believe this issue will be on the agenda of the next Guns Interception Conference session, which is scheduled for January 2026," added Gatilov.

The agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation on Steps to Reduce and Further Restrictions on Strategic Offensive Weapons (New START) was signed in 2010 and took effect on February 5, 2011.

The document stipulates that seven years after its enactment, each party should not have more than 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers deployed, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on ICBMs, SLBMs, and deployed strategic bombers, and a total of 800 ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and strategic bombers deployed and not deployed.

This agreement was signed for a period of ten years, until February 5, 2021, with the possibility of further extension of the agreement with the parties.

In February 2021, Moscow and Washington extended the agreement, described by Russian authorities as a gold standard in the field of arms removal, for a maximum period of five years.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 21, 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the New START but did not withdraw. The President stressed that before discussing the extension of the agreement, the Russians wanted to understand how New START would account for not only US weapons but also other NATO nuclear power reserves, namely Britain and France.

On September 22, President Putin stated that in a meeting with the Russian Security Council, his country was ready to continue to comply with the quantitative restrictions of the agreement for another year after New START ended in February. However, he stressed this move was only feasible if Washington followed suit.

Answering TASS's question on October 5, President Trump said President Putin's proposal "sounds like a good idea."

This week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov in an interview said the United States had not yet responded to Moscow's proposed New START extension proposal.