Putin Offers Trump Temporary One-Year Extension of New START Nuclear Treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for one year if U.S. President Donald Trump agrees to do the same. The treaty, which limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems for both countries, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. Speaking to Russia’s Security Council, Putin said the temporary extension would maintain global nuclear balance, encourage dialogue on the treaty’s successor, and support non-proliferation efforts. He emphasized that Russia’s adherence to these limits would depend on reciprocal U.S. action and a commitment to avoid undermining the current deterrence balance. With the Ukraine war complicating relations, formal talks between Moscow and Washington on New START’s renewal have not yet begun.