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U.S., Russia Near Deal to Extend Nuclear Treaty, Freeze Warheads for a Year

U.S., Russia Near Deal to Extend Nuclear Treaty, Freeze Warheads for a Year




The U.S. and Russia are on the verge of an arms-control deal that would freeze the number of nuclear warheads on each side and extend the New START agreement for a year, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday.

“We are very, very close to a deal,” the official said. “Now that the Russians have agreed to a warhead freeze, I do not see why we cannot work out the remaining issues in the coming days.”

The Trump administration has been pressing Russia to conclude the agreement before the Nov. 3 U.S. election, a development that would provide President Trump with a diplomatic achievement in the final days of his campaign.

On Friday, the two sides appeared to be at odds over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that the 2011 New START treaty—which cuts long-range arms and is due to expire in February—be extended unconditionally for a year.

But on Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that Moscow also would agree to the longstanding U.S. demand for a warhead freeze for the same period if New START is extended.

The remaining issues to be worked out include verification of the warhead freeze and the definition of a warhead, the U.S. official said.

“We appreciate the Russian Federation’s willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. “The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalize a verifiable agreement. We expect Russia to empower its diplomats to do the same.”

The purpose of the deal would be to buy time for a future treaty that would take the place of New START and which the Trump administration says should include China. The politically binding deal currently under negotiation between U.S. and Russian officials, however, wouldn’t specifically mention China, officials on both sides have said.

The deal, proponents of Mr. Trump’s approach say, could also shape expectations for a future treaty under an administration led by Democrat Joe Biden if Mr. Trump loses on Nov. 3.

Marshall Billingslea, the chief U.S. negotiator, is scheduled to brief NATO diplomats Tuesday morning on prospects for an agreement.

U.S., Russia Near Deal to Extend Nuclear Treaty, Freeze Warheads for a Year

Russian police marched in front of a strategic nuclear missile in June during a military parade rehearsal in Red Square, Moscow.



Photo:

sergei ilnitsky/Shutterstock

Write to Michael R. Gordon at [email protected] and Ann Simmons at [email protected]

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