US Reviewing Putin’s Nuclear Arms Proposal
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, announced that the Vladimir Putin-led Russian government has told the United States that it is willing to maintain the limits of the New START treaty beyond its February 2026 expiry, and that Washington is now “considering” the proposal through diplomatic channels. He said that, so far, the U.S. has not made a substantive formal response.
What the Proposal Involves
Under the offer, Russia is prepared to uphold the numerical ceilings on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems set by New START. This move is framed as a way to avoid an unchecked arms race ahead of the treaty’s expiration. Lavrov indicated that Russia expects the U.S. to respond in kind and address Russia’s broader concerns on strategic stability.
Implications for Arms Control
If the United States seriously engages with the offer, it would mark a rare thaw in nuclear-arms dialogue between Washington and Moscow. Analysts note that deep mistrust remains and a formal successor to New START is still elusive. Without timely agreement, both countries may face the prospect of unrestricted strategic nuclear competition when the current treaty lapses.
