Trump responds to Putin's New START proposal for the first time

U.S. President Donald Trump has described Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s, proposal on the New START Treaty as a "good idea."

"That sounds like a good idea to me," Donald Trump said.

On September 22, Putin said at a meeting with the Russian Security Council that Russia was prepared to continue adhering to the treaty's quantitative restrictions for another year after the New START expires on February 5, 2026. However, he emphasized that this measure is only viable if Washington follows suit.

Earlier, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry Guo Jiakun said that China's position on the U.S.-Russia New START treaty is consistent, noting that China commends the positive stance expressed by Russia.

The New START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia was signed in 2010 and entered into force on February 5, 2011. The document stipulates that seven years after its entry into effect each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.

The Treaty was signed for a term of ten years, until February 5, 2021, with a possibility of a further extension upon the parties’ mutual consent. In February 2021, Moscow and Washington extended the treaty for the maximal possible five years.