Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to Western nations, accusing them of dismantling decades-old frameworks for international security and cautioning of the risk of a new arms race if meaningful dialogue is not restored.
Speaking on the future of nuclear stability, Putin lamented the near collapse of the system of U.S.-Soviet and U.S.-Russian arms control agreements, blaming their demise on “destabilising doctrines and military-technical programs” pursued by the West. He emphasized that these agreements had long served as the bedrock of global security, but that their gradual erosion has left the world in a precarious position.
Putin stressed that Russia remains fully capable of responding to any security threat, citing as an example Moscow’s decision to end its unilateral moratorium on deploying ground-based short- and intermediate-range missiles. This move, he explained, was a direct reaction to the deployment of similar U.S. and allied weapons in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite his criticism of Washington, Putin indicated that Russia would continue to observe the central limits of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for one year beyond its scheduled February 5, 2026, expiry, provided that the United States refrains from actions that would undermine strategic stability.
“Renouncing the legacy of this treaty would be a grave and short-sighted mistake,” Putin warned, underlining that abandoning New START would undermine global non-proliferation efforts. He also expressed concern about U.S. plans to expand missile defence, including the potential deployment of interceptors in space, calling such actions destabilising.
Putin argued that Russia’s proposal to maintain the New START limits could help preserve stability and lay the groundwork for renewed dialogue, but only if Washington reciprocates with a similar spirit and works to ease broader tensions.
He concluded by insisting that Moscow’s stance is not aimed at escalation, but at ensuring predictability, restraint, and the preservation of global strategic balance.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
