US and Russia appear set to extend ‘New Start’ nuclear pact
- Moscow said on Tuesday it could agree to US-proposed freeze on each side’s warheads and to extend treaty by one year
- US says it’s ready for quick deal, after apparent breakdown in talks last week
The United States and Russia inched closer on Tuesday to a deal to extend their last remaining arms control pact, after US threats to allow the deal to expire early next year.
The two sides signalled they are ready to accept compromises to salvage the New Start treaty just two weeks ahead of the US presidential election in which President Donald Trump faces a strong challenge from former vice-president Joe Biden, whose campaign has accused Trump of being soft on Russia.
After the White House last week rejected a proposal from the Kremlin to keep the accord alive, calling it a “non-starter”, Moscow said Tuesday it could agree to a US-proposed freeze on each side’s nuclear warheads and to extend the treaty by one year. In response, the US said it was ready for a quick deal.
In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry outlined the shift in Moscow’s position after last week’s apparent breakdown in the talks on New Start, which expires in February. It said Russia is prepared for a deal if the US agrees to put forward no additional demands.
The US State Department then welcomed the Russian offer.