Russian President Putin Proposes Extension Of New START Treaty For One Year Without Conditions

Russia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a video conference call with members of the Security Council in Moscow, Russia October 16, 2020. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

Reuter: Putin proposes Russia, U.S. extend New START arms control treaty for one year

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Friday that Russia and the United States extend their New START arms control treaty that expires in February for at least a year without imposing any conditions. 

The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) accord, signed in 2010, limits the numbers of strategic nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers that Russia and the United States can deploy. 

A failure to extend the pact would remove all constraints on U.S. and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, fueling a post-Cold War arms race and tensions between Moscow and Washington. Putin, speaking at a meeting by video link with Russia’s Security Council that was broadcast on state television, said the treaty had worked effectively until now and it would be “extremely sad” if it were to stop working. 

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WNU Editor: Wow! Quite a change in policy from two days ago when the Russian foreign office was saying this .... Russia sees no prospect of prolonging New START treaty with US, but is not closing door on negotiations – Foreign Minister Lavrov (RT), and the US media was saying this .... Trump Thought He Had a Nuclear Deal With Putin. Not So Fast, Russia Said. (New York Times). More here .... Russia Says No To U.S. Proposal On Extending The New START Treaty "For Some Period Of Time" In Exchange For Russia Freezing Its Nuclear Arsenal (October 14, 2020). So what changed the Kremlin's mind? If I was to guess, they are giving President Trump a gift. He can now claim success in an arms agreement with Russia. And if President Trump is defeated, no big deal. Democrat Presidential candidate Biden has already stated he is open to extend START by 5 years which is what the Kremlin wants. 

 More News On Russian President Putin Proposes Extension Of New START Treaty For One Year Without Conditions 

Putin proposes to extend New START without preconditions for one year minimum -- TASS 

Putin: Russia Has New Weapons US Doesn’t Have, Ready to Discuss Them as Part of New START Talks -- Sputnik 

Putin Proposes One-Year Extension of New START Treaty -- Moscow Times/AFP 

Putin Proposes Extension Of New START Treaty For One Year Without Conditions -- RFE 

Putin proposes yearlong extension of nuclear pact with U.S. -- Politico