Putin offers Trump one-year extension to nuclear weapons treaty

By Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump a one-year extension on Monday to the last treaty limiting both countries' nuclear weapons while they discuss what comes next.

Russia and the United States have by far the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world. The New START treaty limiting the numbers of strategic nuclear weapons - those designed to hit centres of military, economic and political power - expires on February 5.

The treaty caps the number of deployed warheads at 1,550 on each side. Both are likely to breach that if the treaty is not extended or replaced.

PUTIN UNDER PRESSURE TO END UKRAINE WAR

Putin said his proposal was in the interests of global non-proliferation and could help spur dialogue with Washington about arms control.

He has been under pressure from Trump to agree to end the war in Ukraine, something Moscow says is part of a slew of security issues that have raised East-West tensions to their most dangerous level since the Cold War.

The offer, made as Ukraine tries to convince Trump to impose harsher sanctions on Russia, was made public by Putin at a meeting of his Security Council.

"Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central numerical limits under the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026," he said.

"Subsequently, based on an analysis of the situation, we will make a decision on whether to maintain these voluntary, self-imposed restrictions.

"This measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner, and does not take steps that undermine or violate the existing balance of deterrence capabilities."

The proposal appears to be a unilateral change of policy by Moscow, which has until now insisted it would only engage with Washington on such matters if overall ties - hampered by stark differences over the war in Ukraine - improved.

There was no immediate response from Washington.

TALKS ON OVERHAULING TREATY YET TO START

Differences over Ukraine mean the two superpowers have not started talks on renewing or overhauling the treaty, though Trump has spoken of his desire to do a new nuclear arms control deal, albeit with China as well.

Beijing has rejected the idea that it should be included.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group, said Putin's offer was "a positive and welcome move".

Urging Washington to reciprocate, Kimball said Trump and Putin could "help reduce the most immediate existential security threat facing the world".

Putin said Russia would be monitoring U.S. nuclear arms and defence activity, paying particular attention to plans to beef up missile defences and proposals to deploy missile interceptors in space.

"The practical implementation of such destabilising actions could nullify our efforts to maintain the status quo in the field of START," said Putin. "We will respond accordingly."

Konstantin Kosachyov, a senior Russian senator, said Putin was sending a message to the U.S. that he was ready to enter talks on a new arms control treaty.

"I hope that this signal will be heard and correctly interpreted," Kosachyov said on Telegram.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Ros Russell)