Trump: Putin backs concept of "reducing nuclear stockpiles"
In 2019, discussions took place between Russia and the US regarding the potential limitation of their nuclear arms arsenals, as stated by President Trump. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Moscow and Washington engaged in discussions in 2019 regarding the potential for limiting nuclear arms, as stated by the US president.
US President Donald Trump expressed his desire to initiate conversations with Russia and China focused on reducing nuclear weapons stockpiles. He noted that the concept of denuclearization had previously received support from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump shared these thoughts during a video address at the annual World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Reflecting on discussions with Putin prior to the 2020 US election concerning denuclearization, Trump remarked, “I can tell you that President Putin wanted to do it, he and I wanted to do it.”
He further mentioned, “We had a good conversation with China, they would have been involved, and that would have been an unbelievable thing for the planet.”
Additionally, Trump highlighted the financial burden associated with maintaining the US nuclear arsenal as a key reason for considering limitations on the number of deployed weapons. “Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear, and the destructive capability is something that we don’t even want to talk about,” he noted.
In May 2019, Trump informed reporters that he and Putin had deliberated on the possibility of a new agreement to limit nuclear arms, a deal that could potentially include China, marking a significant arrangement among the world's leading nuclear powers.
This exchange occurred as the ‘New START’ treaty, the sole arms control agreement mandating reductions in deployed strategic nuclear warheads between Moscow and Washington, was nearing its expiration in February 2021. The treaty was subsequently extended for five years until it expires in 2026.
Nonetheless, Russia officially suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023, citing Washington’s military backing for Ukraine. Moscow indicated it would still follow the treaty’s established limits.
Since then, Russian officials have cautioned that ongoing US military buildup near its borders and the global deployment of nuclear-capable missiles may provoke a proportional response.
Although Moscow possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, Russian leaders, including Putin, have consistently emphasized that they view the use of such weapons as a “last resort.”
In the past year, Russia revised its nuclear doctrine following the US and several Western nations allowing Ukraine to utilize foreign-made long-range weaponry for attacks deep within Russia. The updated doctrine suggests that aggression from a non-nuclear state, or a coalition of states backed by a nuclear power, could be interpreted as a “joint attack” on Russia.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump expressed his desire to initiate conversations with Russia and China focused on reducing nuclear weapons stockpiles. He noted that the concept of denuclearization had previously received support from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump shared these thoughts during a video address at the annual World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Reflecting on discussions with Putin prior to the 2020 US election concerning denuclearization, Trump remarked, “I can tell you that President Putin wanted to do it, he and I wanted to do it.”
He further mentioned, “We had a good conversation with China, they would have been involved, and that would have been an unbelievable thing for the planet.”
Additionally, Trump highlighted the financial burden associated with maintaining the US nuclear arsenal as a key reason for considering limitations on the number of deployed weapons. “Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear, and the destructive capability is something that we don’t even want to talk about,” he noted.
In May 2019, Trump informed reporters that he and Putin had deliberated on the possibility of a new agreement to limit nuclear arms, a deal that could potentially include China, marking a significant arrangement among the world's leading nuclear powers.
This exchange occurred as the ‘New START’ treaty, the sole arms control agreement mandating reductions in deployed strategic nuclear warheads between Moscow and Washington, was nearing its expiration in February 2021. The treaty was subsequently extended for five years until it expires in 2026.
Nonetheless, Russia officially suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023, citing Washington’s military backing for Ukraine. Moscow indicated it would still follow the treaty’s established limits.
Since then, Russian officials have cautioned that ongoing US military buildup near its borders and the global deployment of nuclear-capable missiles may provoke a proportional response.
Although Moscow possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, Russian leaders, including Putin, have consistently emphasized that they view the use of such weapons as a “last resort.”
In the past year, Russia revised its nuclear doctrine following the US and several Western nations allowing Ukraine to utilize foreign-made long-range weaponry for attacks deep within Russia. The updated doctrine suggests that aggression from a non-nuclear state, or a coalition of states backed by a nuclear power, could be interpreted as a “joint attack” on Russia.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
