The Kremlin welcomed US President Donald Trump’s favorable remarks on Russia’s proposal to keep New START limits in place, sending a top spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday.
Trump Calls Putin’s Proposal a Good Idea
In September, Vladimir Putin offered a voluntary extension of the New START limits for another year, the last remaining active US‑Russia arms‑control treaty set to expire in February next year. Asked about it Sunday by journalists, Donald Trump said it sounded “like a good idea” to him.
New York Times Analysis: Extension Could Delay Nuclear Race
The extension could help Russia avoid a costly nuclear arms race while its war with Ukraine and resulting international sanctions have put the country under strong economic pressure, the New York Times analyzed. As we read, Moscow plans to spend less on the military next year than this year, but security and defense will still account for 38% of its federal budget. “Maintaining limits on warheads could also open the Kremlin a path to negotiations with Washington on issues unrelated to Ukraine, an avenue Moscow has failed to pursue since Trump’s return to the White House in January,” the analysis emphasized.
Kremlin Spokesman Responds to US President’s Statement
On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he welcomed Trump’s positive reaction with “pleasure.” He noted it gives grounds for optimism that the United States supports Putin’s initiative. The United States and Russia are the world’s largest nuclear powers, together holding about 87% of the world’s nuclear warheads. According to Reuters, Russia has a total of 5,459 warheads, while the United States has 5,177.