Call by Putin to save final nuclear arms control pact with US

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a call to save the last nuclear arms control pact between his country and the United States, proposing to extend it at least for one year.

His statement comes amid conflicting signals from Russian and US diplomats about the fate of the New Start treaty that is set to expire in February unless Moscow and Washington agree on its extension.

Mr Putin said “it would be extremely sad if the treaty ceases to exist without being replaced by another fundamental document of the kind”.

The New Start treaty was signed in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev. It limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping onsite inspections.

Russia previously offered its extension for five years without any conditions, while the US administration pushed for a new arms control agreement that would also include China.

Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing ’ s refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much- smaller nuclear arsenal.

Mr Putin yesterday proposed to “extend the existing treaty without any conditions for at least one year” to allow for “substantive talks”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday :“I am hopeful that the Russians will find a way to agree to an outcome that, frankly, I think is in their best interest and in our best interest.”

President Putin issued treaty extension proposals.