Putin proposes yearlong extension of nuclear pact with US Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a strong call to save his country's last existing nuclear arms control pact with the United States, proposing to extend it at least for one yearMOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday made a strong call to save the last existing nuclear arms control pact between his country and the United States, proposing to extend it at least for one year. While Putin is offering to extend the New START as it is, the U.S. has proposed a broader freeze on all nuclear warheads, including battlefield nuclear weapons that aren't covered by the pact that only limits strategic nuclear arsenals. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. Russia previously offered the pact’s extension for five years without any conditions, while the U.S. administration pushed for a new arms control agreement that would also include China. He specified that Russia can’t agree to the U.S. proposal to limit battlefield nuclear weapons alongside nuclear warheads that arm strategic missiles and bombers until the U.S. agrees to withdraw its tactical nuclear weapons from Europe.

Source: ABC News October 16, 2020 12:15 UTC