Moscow Signals Openness to Nuclear Arms Control Talks with U.S. After Suspension

Moscow is ready to restart discussions on nuclear arms control with the United States, according to Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, in a state media announcement made more than two years after Russia halted its involvement in the last significant arms treaty with the U.S.

In an interview with the state-owned news outlet TASS published Thursday, Shoigu noted, “The current Trump administration is showing a willingness to re-engage in dialogue regarding strategic stability.”

He emphasized that any forthcoming arms control agreement must consider the increasing threats faced by Russia, which he attributed to NATO’s expansion, the U.S. global missile defense initiatives, and the deployment of intermediate- and short-range ground-based missiles by Washington.

Furthermore, Shoigu mentioned the recent proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to extend France’s nuclear deterrent to its European partners as a crucial factor that should be included in any future agreements.

“These developments pose additional military challenges for Russia,” Shoigu stated, adding, “This is why we are awaiting concrete proposals from our American counterparts.”

In February 2023, President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the New START treaty, which was signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, capping each country at 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads, with the treaty set to expire in 2026.

Shoigu attributed the issues surrounding New START to the «irresponsible» policies of Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, which he claims led Russia to withdraw from the agreement, though he maintained that Moscow continues to adhere to the treaty’s limits.

Additionally, the Security Council head cautioned that Russia reserves the right to utilize nuclear weapons in reaction to Western aggression and indicated that Moscow might resume nuclear testing in response to actions taken by the U.S.

Having served as Russia’s defense minister for over a decade and overseeing the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Shoigu was replaced last year and now leads the nation’s influential Security Council, which provides counsel to Putin on national security issues.