Putin says ‘no big deal’ if US doesn’t extend nuclear warhead limits | news

The Russian President reveals the development of new strategic weapons amid faltering nuclear treaty talks with the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is working to develop new strategic weapons, while noting that an arms race is already underway.

Speaking to reporters during a summit in Tajikistan on Friday, the Russian president said it would not matter to Moscow if the United States refused to extend warhead limits set out in the Nuclear Weapons Treaty, which expires next year.

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However, Putin said it would be a shame if nothing remained of the arms control framework between the two countries, which have the world’s largest nuclear arsenal ever.

Russia has said it is willing to extend the warhead limits set in the New START Treaty, which expires in February, if the United States is willing to do the same. Washington has not yet officially approved this proposal.

The agreement stipulates that each country shall possess no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.

“Will these few months be enough to decide on an extension? I think it will be enough if there is good will to extend these agreements. If the Americans decide they don’t need it, it’s not a big deal for us,” Putin told reporters.

The New START Treaty, which entered into force in February 2011, is the last major arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington.

The treaty was signed in 2010, limiting the number of strategic nuclear warheads the two countries can deploy.

Putin added that Russia continues to develop and test the new generation of nuclear weapons.

“We are ready to negotiate if it is acceptable and beneficial to the Americans. If not, then no, but that would be a shame, because then there would be nothing left in terms of deterrence in the field of strategic offensive weapons.”

‘Some countries’ are considering conducting nuclear tests

For the second time in a week, Putin suggested that other countries, which he did not name, might conduct a nuclear test – something that only North Korea has done this century.

He said Russia would also conduct a test if that happened.

“There is always a temptation to test the effectiveness of the same fuel that has been in missiles for many years,” Putin said. “All this is simulated on computers, and experts believe that this is enough, but some of these same experts believe that repeating the tests is necessary.”

He added: “So some countries are thinking about it; as far as I know, they are preparing, and that is why I said that if they do it, we will do the same.”

He added that this would be a good thing from a security standpoint, but bad from the point of view of limiting the arms race.

“But in that same context, extending New START for at least a year is a good idea.”