Putin says ‘no big deal’ for Russia if US declines to extend nuclear warhead limits | World News - The Indian Express skip to contentAdvertisementBy: Reuters October 10, 2025 07:52 PM IST First published on: Oct 10, 2025 at 07:51 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookRussian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference after the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP)President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia was developing new strategic weapons and 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.He 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.Speaking to reporters at a summit in Tajikistan, Putin said an arms race was already in progress. Russia has said it is willing to voluntarily extend the warhead limits defined in the New START treaty, which expires in February, if the United States is willing to do the same. Washington has not yet formally agreed to the proposal.“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 said.He added that Russia was continuing to develop and test new-generation nuclear weapons.“We’re ready to negotiate if it’s acceptable and useful for the Americans. If not, then no, but that would be a shame, because then there would be nothing left in terms of deterrence in the area of strategic offensive weapons.“For the second time in a week, Putin referred to the possibility that other countries, which he did not name, might carry out a nuclear test – something only North Korea has done this century. He has said that Russia would also perform a test if this happens.Most ReadSecurity experts say a test by one country would have a knock-on effect, prompting other nuclear powers to do the same, raiing geopolitical tensions further from their current, already high, levels. “There’s always a temptation to test the effectiveness of the same fuel that’s been in missiles for many, many years. All of this is being simulated on computers, and experts believe that is sufficient, but some of these same experts believe repeat tests are necessary,” Putin said.“So some countries are thinking about it; as far as I know, they’re even preparing, and that’s why I said that if they do it, we’ll do the same.“That would be good from a security perspective, but bad from the point of view of curbing the arms race, he said. “But in this same context, extending the New START Treaty for at least a year is a good idea.” AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...SubscribeSign InJournalism of CourageTop CategoriesLATEST STORIESNewsmaker | Bengal minister, Mamata’s top lieutenant, Sujit Bose again faces EC raids in scam probePeople have become obsessed with loan waiver: NCP Minister Babasaheb Patil‘I just wanted to bathe in Shah Rukh Khan’s swimming pool’: When a fan sneaked inside Mannat, took a swim, and left without meeting the superstarNobel Prizes this year offer three cheers for slow scienceKnowledge Nugget : Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules — key UPSC Environment topic you can’t missOdisha sub-inspector sends youth to handle case on his behalf, suspendedWhy China Built 162 Square Miles of Solar Panels on the World’s Highest PlateauMaría Corina Machado dedicates Nobel Peace Prize win to people of Venezuela — and Donald TrumpTownship with 40,000 houses on the cards for Mumbai police personnel‘My blood pressure is 150/90. Does it cause any harm. I am 54 years old’Consumer forum slams Star Health for unfair claim denial, orders Rs 25 lakh payoutPresident Donald Trump is headed to Walter Reed for a ‘semiannual physical’The City and I: From Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, the journey that taught me to witnessIND vs WI | WATCH: India players’ fun banter with captain Shubman Gill after finally winning his first toss on 7th tryIndia vs WI: Yashasvi Jaiswal makes it India’s day at Kotla5 stories you must read today, October 10: From Gaza ceasefire coming into effect to US sanctioning 9 Indian companies and more