Russia is willing to maintain the numerical limits specified in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty for an additional year, provided the United States does the same, stated Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.
The New START Treaty is set to expire in February 2026 and was largely considered to be on the verge of abandonment after Russia suspended its participation in 2023 without formally withdrawing from the treaty.
In September, President Vladimir Putin indicated his readiness to comply with the treaty’s limits of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 800 delivery systems for one more year.
“We have consistently stated that this proposal reflects our unilateral gesture of goodwill. For the U.S. to support our position, no negotiations or discussions are necessary,” Lavrov mentioned during an interview with media representatives.
“All that is needed is for Washington to simply affirm that it will not exceed the quantitative limits established by [New START] for one year,” he added, with his remarks also featured on the Foreign Ministry’s website.
Russia’s chief diplomat proposed that Washington could announce its decision at any point before the treaty’s expiration on February 5. However, he cautioned that Moscow would resume nuclear testing if another nuclear nation did so first.
At the same time, Lavrov dismissed U.S. allegations of “suspicious underground activities” at Russian test sites but expressed Moscow’s willingness to discuss these claims.
U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Russia and China of conducting nuclear weapons tests, asserting that he directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with other nuclear-armed nations. These comments came after Putin revealed that Russia had tested its nuclear-capable weaponry.
Lavrov refuted Trump’s assertions, stating that Washington could verify whether Russia tested a nuclear warhead using the global seismic monitoring system.
“Other tests, including subcritical tests, which do not involve a chain nuclear reaction, and carrier tests, have never been banned,” he remarked.
Lavrov urged the world’s two largest nuclear powers to “de-escalate, assess the situation, and recognize the responsibilities of major powers regarding global security and the prevention of nuclear warfare.”
His statements came amidst media speculation about a supposed rift with Putin after Trump canceled a planned summit with the Russian leader in Budapest last month.
A Kremlin spokesperson labeled these claims as “false” on Friday.
In the interview on Tuesday, Lavrov reiterated that Russia remains open to organizing a potential U.S.-Russia summit in Budapest.
Reporting by AFP contributed to this article.
