Moscow, Nov 1 (UNI) (UNI/ SPUTNIK) Russia is willing to comply with the quantitative limits under the New START treaty only if the United States reciprocates, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, told RIA Novosti.
“The proposal put forward by President Vladimir Putin to adhere to the New START limits after February 5, 2026, remains relevant. Naturally, we are prepared to do so only if the United States reciprocates,” Gatilov said. The diplomat noted that, despite a positive public reaction from US President Donald Trump, Russia has yet to receive an official response from the United States.
Earlier, Putin stated that Russia is prepared to continue observing the treaty’s restrictions for one year beyond February 5, 2026, but stressed that such compliance would be contingent on reciprocal US measures.
Trump reportedly called Putin’s proposal a “good idea.”
On October 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow expects a positive response from the United States, adding that discussions on extending New START have not taken place for some time.
New START, which limits US and Russian nuclear forces to 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 strategic launchers deployed on each side, will expire Feb. 5, 2026. In 2021, the United States and Russia agreed to exercise a clause of the treaty permitting a one-time, five-year extension.
Speaking at a Sept. 22 news conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the proposal sounded “pretty good.” Two weeks later, President Donald Trump, answering a question from a TASS reporter, affirmed the US view, saying of Putin’s proposal, “it sounds like a good idea to me.”
Russia signals compliance with New START only if US reciprocates
