Russian President Vladimir Putin. © RIA Novosti. Alexei Nikolskiy
Putin Shows Some Openness To New Missile Reductions -- New York Times
MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin said Friday that Russia would be willing to negotiate new reductions in nuclear arms with the United States but that Washington must first change its plans for a missile defense system in Europe strongly opposed by the Kremlin.
Mr. Putin’s comments suggested, in theory, a new openness by Russia to going beyond the New Start treaty, which was signed by his predecessor, Dmitry A. Medvedev, and President Obama in April 2010 and ratified by the United States Senate later that year.
While the New Start treaty requires Russia and the United States to reduce their arsenals to 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 launchers within seven years, the countries have discussed a follow-up agreement that would cut tactical warheads and stored strategic weapons that are not covered by the existing treaty.
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My Comment: Putin is only stating what has been stated before .... no nuclear reductions unless the U.S. missile defense program is curtailed. This is no new "openness" from Putin.