Gorbachev urges Putin, Biden to aim for deeper curbs on nuclear weapons

The former Soviet leader said the two presidents should meet and discuss further arms restrictions

Washington and Moscow recently extended a pact that limits each side to 1,550 nuclear warheads, which Putin hailed as a positive development

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Russia’s Vladimir Putin (right) with Joe Biden. File photo: AFP

Published: 11:31pm, 27 Feb 2021Updated: 11:31pm, 27 Feb 2021

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Saturday urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin and new US President Joe Biden to push for deeper restrictions on nuclear weapons.

Tensions soared between the two nations under previous US leader Donald Trump, fuelled by allegations of sweeping cyberattacks and a litany of other disagreements.

But soon after Biden took office, the two powers extended a pact that limits each side to 1,550 nuclear warheads, which Putin hailed as a positive development.

Gorbachev told the Interfax news agency that the two leaders – who spoke by phone after Biden’s inauguration last month – should meet and discuss further arms curbs.

“I believe that it is imperative that the presidents meet. Experience shows that it is necessary to meet and negotiate,” he said.

“It is clear that the main thing is to avoid nuclear war. Since such a problem must be avoided, it is impossible to solve it alone, it is necessary to meet.