Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is developing new strategic weapons, while noting that an arms race is already in progress.

 

Speaking to reporters at a summit in Tajikistan yesterday, Putin said it would not be critical for Moscow if the United States declined to extend the warhead limits set out in a nuclear arms treaty that expires next year. President Putin said it would, however, be a shame if nothing remained of the arms control framework between the two countries, which have by far the world’s biggest nuclear arsenals.

 

Russia has said it is willing to voluntarily extend the warhead limits defined in the New START treaty, which expires in February, if the US is willing to do the same. Washington has not yet formally agreed to the proposal. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.

 

The New START Treaty, which came into force in February 2011, is the last major arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington. The treaty limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads the two countries can deploy. Putin said that Russia was continuing to develop and test new-generation nuclear weapons. Russia is ready to negotiate if it is acceptable and useful for the Americans.