Russia and the United States negotiate a new strategic offensive arms reduction treaty

The above statement was made by Russian President Putin on June 29 at a press conference after the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. Mr. Putin said that he and his US counterpart Donald Trump had asked the Foreign Ministry of each country to start negotiations on extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

Russian and US Presidents at the G20 Summit. Photo: AP

However, President Putin said it was still too early to say whether the negotiations on extending the validity of New START would be successful or not?

New START was signed by the United States and Russia in 2010 and entered into force on February 5, 2011. The treaty stipulates that each side reduces its nuclear arsenal so that after seven years and in the future the total number of weapons does not exceed 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missiles deployed on submarines and heavy bombers, as well as 1,550 warheads and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers. The treaty also obliges Russia and the United States to exchange information on the number of warheads and launchers twice a year.

However, New START will expire in 2021 and the prospect of the US government extending this treaty remains unclear, although Russia considers this Treaty a "cornerstone for world security"./.