For Immediate Release: July 25, 2025
Media Contacts: Daryl Kimball, executive director (202-463-8270 x107)
(Washington, D.C.)— In response to questions on broader nuclear arms reductions between the United States and Russia after New START expires, President Donald Trump states, "I would like to see it."
"We are starting to work on that. That is a big problem for the world, when you take off nuclear restrictions that's a big problem," Trump added.
Trump was responding to a question from TASS about the looming expiration of New START.
When told that he earlier called for the United States and Russia to cut their nuclear weapons stockpiles, Trump said he would like to see that happen.
In response, Arms Control Association Executive Director, said: "President Trump is right, it is in the mutual interests of the United States, Russia, and the world to maintain the limits set by the New START agreement."
New START is last remaining bilateral nuclear arms reduction agreement between the United States and Russia. If New START expires with no successor arrangement, Washington and Moscow could, in theory, increase their arsenals beyond New START limits, by uploading more warheads on existing long-range missiles.
"Unless Trump and Putin reach an interim deal to maintain existing limits, we could soon see each side increasing the size of their deployed nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than 35 years by uploading warheads on existing missiles, which is no one’s interests," Kimball stated.
New START expires in 195 days, on Feb. 5, 2026, Trump said, "That's a problem for the world."
Kimball noted that, “given the fact that negotiating a new treaty would take time, it is vital that Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin reach an interim deal agreement to continue to respect the current strategic nuclear weapons limits until a new, more comprehensive framework deal can be achieved between the U.S and Russia.”
Unfortunately, neither side has taken steps to do so. “To reduce the nuclear danger, Trump and Putin need to translate words into action. They should immediately direct their teams to begin talks on a new framework to deal to cap and further reduce their deadly nuclear arsenals."
The Arms Control Association is an independent, membership-based organization dedicated to providing authoritative information and practical policy solutions to address the threats posed by the world's most dangerous weapons. ACA is one of many organizations that has recently issued a "New Call to Halt and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race."