Vladimir Putin’s Shocking Next Move: What Russia’s Kremlin Secrets Reveal Today

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday proposed a one-year extension of the last remaining U.S.–Russia nuclear arms control pact, offering to keep warhead and launcher limits unchanged while negotiators pursue a broader, longer-term accord. Speaking at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission in Perm, Putin said Moscow “does not want a strategic arms race” and called the Stopgap a “responsible step to preserve global security.” Background on the treaty The New START agreement, signed in 2010, caps deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and is set to expire in February. If it lapses without replacement, both nations could rebuild arsenals unchecked—a scenario arms-control experts warn would destabilize Europe and strain already tense U.S.–Russia relations. Key points of Putin’s offer • One-year rollover of current New START limits on warheads, missiles and bombers • Immediate bilateral talks to craft a successor treaty covering new weapon classes, including hypersonic glide vehicles • Suspension of Russia’s earlier demand that U.S. missile-defense deployments be included in the pact Why now? Kremlin analysts note that the proposal lands six weeks before the treaty’s expiration, pressuring Washington to decide whether to accept a short-term fix or risk no constraints at all. Moscow also hopes to project diplomatic responsibility amid criticism over its war in Ukraine and strained ties with NATO. U.S. reaction The White House said it is “reviewing the Russian proposal,” reiterating that any extension must include “strong verification measures.” Congressional hawks called the offer “a political ploy,” arguing it would freeze U.S. modernization while allowing Russia to test exotic systems outside treaty limits. Global implications An interim deal would buy time for Washington and Moscow to negotiate limits on emerging weapons and could help revive multilateral arms-control talks that stalled after the collapse of the INF Treaty. European allies, anxious about missile deployments on their doorstep, swiftly endorsed Putin’s overture, urging both sides to “act with urgency.” What’s next Diplomats from both nations are expected to meet in Geneva this week. If a draft protocol is hammered out, Presidents Putin and Biden could sign the extension before December, avoiding a legal vacuum in February. SEO-focused keywords: Vladimir Putin nuclear treaty, New START extension, U.S.–Russia arms control, Putin one-year rollover, Geneva negotiations, strategic arms race prevention