US President Donald Trump has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty for one year, arguing that the decades-old agreement should be replaced with a new and more advanced framework.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said the United States should focus on negotiating a long-term, modern nuclear arms control deal rather than extending what he described as a “badly negotiated” and “seriously violated” treaty. Reuters reported the development.
Putin had recently suggested maintaining the existing limits under the New START treaty—signed in 2010—for an additional year. The treaty caps each side at 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines, and heavy bombers.
Despite Trump’s rejection of a temporary extension, the White House signaled openness to dialogue. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the United States remains prepared to engage in talks with Russia. Echoing this stance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would be interested in dialogue if Washington responds constructively.
Russia’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, noted that with the treaty’s expiration, both countries are now free to determine their next steps, while keeping diplomatic channels open.
The United Nations has urged both sides to restore arms control mechanisms, warning that the absence of a new agreement could increase the risk of miscalculation and a renewed nuclear arms race. Experts have emphasized that New START not only limited nuclear arsenals but also established inspection and verification measures that helped build mutual trust.
The treaty had only one extension option, which was exercised in 2021 when then-US President Joe Biden and Putin agreed to extend it for five years.
Although Trump has previously advocated for including China in a future arms control agreement, Beijing has declined to participate, citing its comparatively smaller nuclear arsenal of an estimated 600 warheads.
Trump Rejects Putin’s Proposal to Extend New START Treaty for One Year
The US president says Washington should pursue a new, modernized nuclear arms control agreement instead of renewing what he called a flawed and violated pact.
President Trump rejected a one-year extension of the New START treaty, calling for a "modernized" framework instead.
