President Putin Says "It's Not A Big Problem" If The US Rejects The Extension Of Upstream Nuclear Leak Restrictions

President Putin. (Source: Kremlin)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday it would not be a big problem for Moscow if the United States refused to extend the warhead limit set in a nuclear weapons agreement that expires next year.

However, he said it would be unfortunate if there was nothing left over from the arms control framework between the two countries, which so far have the world's largest nuclear arsenal.

Speaking to reporters, President Putin said the arms race was taking place.

Russia has stated it is willing to voluntarily extend the warhead limit set out in the New START agreement, which expires in February, if the United States is willing to do the same. Washington has not officially approved the proposal.

"Has these few months enough to decide on an extension? I think it will be enough if there is good intention to extend this agreement. And if America decides they don't need it, it's not a big deal for us," President Putin said.

He added that Russia continues to develop and test new generation nuclear weapons.

"We are ready to negotiate if it is acceptable and beneficial to America. Otherwise, it will not, but it will be very unfortunate, because then there will be nothing left in terms of prevention in the field of strategic offensive weapons," he said.

For the second time in a week, President Putin alluded to the possibility that other countries, not named, might conduct nuclear tests - something North Korea has only done in the century. He said Russia would also conduct trials if this happened.

Security experts say trials by one country will have a domino impact, prompting other nuclear countries to do the same, increasing geopolitical tensions further from their current high levels.

"There is always a temptation to test the effectiveness of the same fuel that has been used in missiles for years. All of this is simulated on computers, and experts believe it is enough, but some of these experts believe that re-testing needs to be done," President Putin explained.

"So, some countries are considering it; as far as I know, they are even preparing themselves, and that's why I say that if they do, we will do the same," he said.

"It would be good from a security perspective, but bad from a point of view curbing the arms race," he said.

"But in the same context, extending the New START Agreement for at least a year is a good idea," said President Putin.