Putin Praises Trump's Peace Efforts Amidst New START Treaty Extension Discussions

Putin Commends Trump's Peace Efforts

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, October 10, 2025, praised former U.S. President Donald Trump's peace efforts, specifically highlighting his contributions towards potential ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine. Speaking in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, during a summit of former Soviet nations, Putin's remarks came amidst discussions regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, where he extolled Trump's actions.

Hope for New START Extension

During the same event, President Putin expressed hope for securing an agreement to extend the 2010 New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States for another year. This proposal, initially made by Putin in September 2025, suggested that Russia would voluntarily adhere to the treaty's central numerical limits beyond its scheduled expiration if the U.S. reciprocated. Former President Trump, when asked about Putin's offer, indicated a positive reception, stating it 'sounds like a good idea to me.'

The New START Treaty: A Critical Arms Control Pact

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is the last remaining major nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation. Signed on April 8, 2010, in Prague and entering into force on February 5, 2011, the treaty places verifiable limits on the strategic offensive arms of both nations. Key provisions of the treaty include limits on:

• 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads
• 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers
• 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM and SLBM launchers and heavy bombers

The treaty also includes verification measures such as on-site inspections and data exchanges to ensure compliance.

Current Status and Impending Expiration

The New START Treaty was originally set to expire in February 2021 but was extended for a period of five years by the Biden administration and Russia, pushing its expiration date to February 4, 2026. However, in February 2023, Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the treaty's implementation, including on-site inspections, while stating it would continue to abide by the numerical limits. With the treaty's final expiration approaching in early 2026, the recent exchange between Putin and Trump underscores ongoing efforts and concerns regarding the future of nuclear arms control. The potential lapse of the treaty without a successor agreement could lead to increased global instability and a renewed arms race.