Trump rejects call from Russia's Putin to extend cap on nuclear deployments

"US president says that he wants to negotiate a replacement for strategic nuclear deployment treaty that recently expired. United States President Donald Trump has shot down an offer from Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin proposing a voluntary extension of recently-expired limits on the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons. Trump said on Thursday that he wants negotiators from both countries to sit down and hammer out a new agreement, calling the old treaty badly negotiated."

"Rather than extend NEW START' (A badly negotiated deal by the United States that, aside from everything else, is being grossly violated), we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future, Trump said on his social media network, Truth Social. Trump has previously stated that he would like China to be involved in the new treaty, but authorities in Beijing have shown little interest in doing so."

"The expiration of the New START pact means fewer limits on the massive nuclear arsenals of the US and Russia, spurring concerns over a potential arms race at a time of resurgent anxiety over nuclear weapons. Putin stated last year that he would abide by the treaty for another year if Washington would commit to doing the same. The US, which has previously grumbled that the treaty limited its ability to deploy more missiles against Russia and China, has ignored the Russian offer."

President Trump rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal for a voluntary extension of recently-expired limits on strategic nuclear weapon deployments and called for negotiators to craft a replacement treaty. He described the old New START pact as badly negotiated and grossly violated and urged nuclear experts to develop a new, improved, modernized treaty. He expressed interest in including China in a future agreement, but Beijing showed little interest. The expiration of New START removes limits on US and Russian arsenals and raises concerns about a potential arms race. Putin had offered a one-year extension if Washington reciprocated, an offer the US ignored. Moscow expressed regret and said it will pursue a responsible, stability-focused approach guided by national interests, and delegations reportedly discussed a possible six-month extension during talks in Abu Dhabi.

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