Why Nuclear Negotiations with Russia Are Worth It

"In order to prevent the emergence of a new strategic arms race and to preserve an acceptable degree of predictability and restraint, we consider it reasonable to maintain at this turbulent time the status quo established under New START. Accordingly, Russia is prepared to continue observing the treaty's central quantitative restrictions for one year after February 5, 2026. Following that date, based on a careful assessment of the situation, we will make a definite decision on whether to uphold these voluntary self-limitations."

"We want to have a cessation of the development of nuclear weapons. We know and I know and I get to view it all the time - Sir, would you like to see - and I look at weapons that are so powerful that we just can't ever use them. If we ever use them, the world literally might come to an end. There would be no United Nations to be talking about. There would be no nothing."

Russian leadership offered to preserve the New START status quo and observe the treaty's central quantitative restrictions for one year after February 5, 2026, with a future decision to follow based on assessment. The proposal is conditioned on similar reciprocal restraint by the United States to avoid undermining the existing balance of deterrence. The White House press office indicated presidential awareness of the offer and deferred detailed comment to the President. At the U.N., the U.S. President departed from prepared remarks to call for cessation of nuclear weapons development and warned that using such weapons could end the world, raising prospects for negotiations to extend New START limits on deployed warheads and delivery systems.

Read at The Cipher Brief