October 26, 2014

Putin: Russia Interested in Further Nuclear Reductions

By ExchangeMonitor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said late last week that Moscow is interested in negotiating further nuclear arms reductions, potentially signaling a change in Russia’s arms control posture. According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Putin made the comments Friday during a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting in Sochi, Russia. “We insist on continuing negotiations,” Putin was quoted as saying. "We are not just in favor of talks, we insist on negotiating further nuclear arms reductions. The fewer nuclear weapons there are in the world the better. And [we are also] ready for a most serious talk on the issues of nuclear disarmament.”

Since agreeing to the New START Treaty in 2010, Russia has balked at further nuclear reductions and did not embrace President Obama’s call last summer for a one-third reduction to the deployed strategic arsenals of each country, to about 1,000 nuclear weapons. Putin’s announcement also comes as the U.S. has accused Russia of violating the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty and during increased tensions over Russian actions in Ukraine. There are no current plans for arms control talks between the two countries, but Putin said negotiations should be undertaken “with no double standards.”

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