Kremlin urges Trump for nuclear disarmament talks

Sub: IR

Sec: Int conventions

Context:

The Kremlin expressed interest in resuming nuclear disarmament talks with the United States, following President Donald Trump’s call for global denuclearization.
This comes after negotiations between the two countries to reach a new agreement have stalled, especially after Russia withdrew from the New START treaty in 2023 due to escalating tensions over the Ukraine conflict.

Russia’s withdrawal from New START Treaty:

The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was the last remaining arms control agreement between Russia and the United States.
In 2023, Russia formally withdrew from the treaty, citing the sharp deterioration of relations between the two countries, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Despite the withdrawal, both countries have continued to adhere to the warhead limits outlined in the treaty, which restricts them to a maximum of 1,550 deployed warheads each, until 2026.

New START Treaty:

It is a treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms.
It entered into force on 5th February, 2011.
The treaty limits the US and Russia to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, well below Cold War caps.
New START has replaced the 1991 START I treaty, which expired December 2009, and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), which terminated when New START entered into force.
Its duration was for ten years that is till 2021, but it was extended by five more years till 2026.