Putin Proposes Extending New START for at Least a Year, Without Preconditions

Tass reports Putin’s call for one year extension of New START: “I have a proposal to extend the existing treaty without preconditions for one year, at least. So that we could hold substantial talks on all parameters of the issues, regulated by treaties of this kind, so that we do not leave both our countries and all states of the world without such fundamental agreement as the New START… It would be extremely tragic, if the treaty ceases to exist, without being replaced with another fundamental document of this kind… It is clear that we have new weapon systems, which the American side has not, at least not right now. But we do not refuse to discuss this side of the issue, too.” He addressed Lavrov: “In this regard, please, convey our position to the American partners and try to obtain at least some comprehensible response from them.” Lavrov agreed, “as soon as possible.”