Russia Prepared if U.S. Declines to Extend Nuclear Arms Treaty

Tajikistan: Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed the potential impact on Moscow if the United States chooses not to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty, describing such a scenario as “no big deal” for Russia. Speaking at a regional summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Putin stressed that while the potential collapse of the arms control framework would be regrettable, Russia is prepared to maintain its strategic nuclear capabilities independently.

Putin emphasized that Russia is actively developing and testing next-generation nuclear weapons, signaling the country’s commitment to preserving its deterrence power regardless of U.S. decisions. “If the Americans decide they don’t need it, that’s not a big deal for us,” he remarked, underlining Moscow’s confidence in its mi