Putin offers Trump one-year extension to nuclear weapons treaty

 MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday offered to voluntarily uphold the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set by the 2010 New START treaty after its expiration in February—provided the United States agrees to do the same.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the proposal as sounding “pretty good,” but added that U.S. President Donald Trump would respond to it directly.

The New START accord, the last remaining U.S.-Russia strategic arms control treaty, was extended once in 2021 by Putin and then-President Joe Biden. It caps each side at 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 delivery vehicles, including missiles, submarines, and bombers.

Putin announced his offer during a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, saying:

“Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central numerical limits under the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026. Subsequently, based on an analysis of the situation, we will decide whether to maintain these voluntary, self-imposed restrictions.”

The move comes as Ukraine pushes Trump to adopt harsher sanctions on Moscow. In July, Trump had signaled interest in maintaining the current limits once the treaty expires.

Pressure on Putin Over Ukraine

Putin framed the proposal as a contribution to global non-proliferation and a possible opening for dialogue with Washington.

“This measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner, and does not take steps that undermine the existing balance of deterrence,” he said.

The Kremlin remains under pressure from Trump to end the war in Ukraine—a conflict Moscow considers central to broader East-West tensions, now at their most dangerous point since the Cold War.

Until now, Moscow had insisted it would only discuss arms control once ties with Washington improved. Putin’s move suggests a shift in that stance.

No Talks Yet on Renewal

Despite mutual interest, the U.S. and Russia have yet to launch formal negotiations on extending or replacing New START. Trump has previously floated the idea of a broader deal that would also involve China, though Beijing has firmly rejected participation.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, called Putin’s proposal “a positive and welcome move,” urging Washington to reciprocate.

“Trump and Putin could help reduce the most immediate existential security threat facing the world,” he said.

Putin warned that Russia would closely monitor U.S. nuclear and defense initiatives, particularly plans for expanded missile defenses and proposals to deploy interceptors in space.

“The implementation of such destabilizing actions could nullify our efforts to maintain the status quo in the field of START,” he cautioned.

Senior Russian senator Konstantin Kosachyov said Putin’s remarks signaled readiness to discuss a new arms control framework.

“I hope this signal will be heard and correctly interpreted,” Kosachyov wrote on Telegram.