Russia's Putin says no big deal' if US won't extend nuclear warhead limits

"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. Will these few months be enough to make a decision on an extension? I think it will be enough if there is goodwill to extend these agreements."

"And if the Americans decide they don't need it, that's not a big deal for us, Putin told reporters. The New START Treaty, which came into force in February 2011, is the last major arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington. The treaty was signed in 2010, limiting the number of strategic nuclear warheads the two countries can deploy. Putin added that Russia was continuing to develop and test new-generation nuclear weapons."

Russia is developing and testing new-generation strategic nuclear weapons while asserting that an arms race is already underway. Russia said it would be willing to voluntarily extend the New START warhead limits if the United States reciprocates, but Washington has not formally agreed. The New START treaty limits each country to 1,550 deployed warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers and expires in February. Russian leadership said a decision on an extension could be reached in a few months if there is goodwill, but indicated it would not view a US refusal as critical, though it would be a shame.

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