“It's not a problem for us” if the US refuses to extend the New Start treaty, says Putin. “Russia continues to develop and test nine generation nuclear weapons”
Vladimir Putin cries for reporters at the Alaska summit. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP / Profimedia
Russia develops new strategic weapons and would not be a critic for Moscow if the US refused to prolong the limits on the number of nuclear ogives set in a treaty on nuclear weapons that expire next year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, writes Reuters and Agerpres.
He said it would be, however, a pity if there was nothing left of the armament control between the two countries, which have by far the largest nuclear arsenals in the world.
In a press conference held at the end of a regional summit in Tadjikistan (Central Asia), Putin said that an army race is already in progress and promised that Russia will soon present the latest progress in this area, according to EFE agency.
Putin added that these weapons are already tested “successfully”.
Russia had previously stated that it was willing to voluntarily extend the limits on the number of nuclear focoa set in the New Start treaty, which expires in February, if the US is willing to do the same. Washington has not yet officially accepted the proposal.
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“These months will be enough to make a decision on an extension? I think they will be sufficient if there is goodwill to extend these agreements. And if the Americans decide they do not need them, it is not a problem for us,” Putin said.
He added that Russia continues to develop and test nine -generation nuclear weapons.
“We are ready to negotiate if it is acceptable and useful to Americans. If not, then no, but it would be a pity, because then nothing would remain in the field of strategic offensive weapons,” the Russian leader said.
“If they do it, we will do the same”
For the second time in a week, Putin referred to the possibility of other countries, which he did not call, to carry out a nuclear test-something that only North Korea did this century. At such a test, Russia will respond symmetrically, the Russian president said.
Security experts believe that a test performed by a country would have a domino effect, boosting other nuclear powers to do the same, which would amplify geopolitical stresses and more than current, already high levels, notes the quoted press agencies.
“There is always the temptation to test the effectiveness of the same fuel that has been used in rockets for many, many years. All of them are simulated on computers, and experts believe it is sufficient, but some of the same experts believe it is necessary to repeat the tests,” Putin said.
“So some countries think about it; as far as I know, they really prepare, and that's why I said that if they do, we will do the same,” he added, without making a concrete reference to the US.
In this context, “the extension of the New Start treaty by at least a year is a good idea,” the Russian president reiterated.
In a first reaction, US President Donald Trump said that the proposal of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of voluntary extension with one year of the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty New Start seems “a good idea”, according to Reuters.
Trump warns the US nuclear arsenal: “We have been a little threatened by Russia and I sent the most lethal weapon ever created. We have better, newer weapons, more”
What does the New Start Treaty provide for
The Russian-American Treaty New Start, signed in 2010, limits each part to 1,550 offensive strategic ogives, to 800 the number of heavy launchers and bombers, and provides for a mechanism of checks, but interrupted in recent years.
On the other hand, asked about the possible delivery of American cruise missiles Tomahawk to Ukraine, Putin, who had previously predicted a serious escalation with Washington if these plans were materialized, it was limited this time to say that Russia would respond to this measure by strengthening its missile.
