Putin wants US ‘clear answer’ on nuclear weapons treaty, proposes one-year extension

Earlier this week, it was widely reported that President Trump he is looking a last-minute pre-election nuclear deal with Russia Since New treaty for the reduction of strategic weapons (new START) It will expire next February.

Russia and the United States have had recent talks for his five-year extension in Vienna and Helsinki in recent weeksBut there is little substantial progress despite the optimistic statements of the US delegation. Russia

has always pushed for an unconditional five-year extension of the treaty, but it seems Putin

You are now ready for a certain level of commitment.

he Friday, Putin briefed the Russian Security Council promotion plans an extension of at least one year without preconditions.

“I have a proposal to extend the existing treaty without preconditions for at least one year”, said according to TASS. “So that we can have substantial conversations on all the parameters of the issues, governed by treaties of this type so that we do not leave our countries and all the states of the world without an agreement as fundamental as the New START“He stressed.

However, with the countdown to the last major arms control deal between Moscow and Washington, following the failure of earlier Cold War treaties like the INF and Open Skies, Washington has so far held its ground. about what He will only consider a short-term extension if a new deal puts all nuclear warheads, including those owned by China, into the framework.

.

The Kremlin had previously called the US plan “absolutely unrealistic”, putting the negotiations at a standstill. But Putin is now pushing for “Kind of a clear answer” amid reports that Trump is eager to see a deal to continue the nuclear weapons reduction treaty.

“During all these years, the New START worked, it worked perfectly, it fulfilled its fundamental role of limiter, stop the arms race“Putin underlined.

Of course, the US elections are included in the Russian calculation. The Russians are probably happy enough to stall and wait a few weeks to see if Biden wins, given that the Democratic nominee has made it clear that he is ready to agree to the unconditional 5-year extension of the landmark nuclear weapons reduction treaty. . .