In a move that has captured global attention, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Moscow is prepared to voluntarily adhere to the limits of its last remaining major nuclear arms treaty with the United States for one year after it expires The surprise announcement offers a potential, albeit temporary, reprieve from the growing fear of an unchecked nuclear arms race.The treaty in question is the New START agreement, a critical pillar of global security that caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and their delivery systems for both Russia and the U.SThe pact is set to expire in February 2026, and with no replacement on the horizon, many experts have been increasingly concerned about strategic stability between the world's two largest nuclear powers.Speaking at a televised meeting of Russia's Security Council, Putin stated that allowing the treaty to simply disappear would have negative consequences for global stabilityHe argued that in the current "turbulent period," it is justified to maintain the status quo established by the treaty to ensure a degree of predictability and restraint."Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central quantitative limitations of the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026," Putin declared.However, the offer comes with a significant condition: the United States must reciprocate. Putin made it clear that this unilateral commitment would only be "viable" if the U.S. acts in a similar manner and does not take steps that would disrupt the existing balance of power.This development is particularly noteworthy given that in February 2023, Putin suspended Russia's participation in the treaty's verification and inspection protocols At the time, he cited Washington's support for Ukraine as a primary reason, stating that Russia could not permit U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites while its allies were openly seeking Moscow's strategic defeat. Despite suspending inspections, Russia had pledged to continue respecting the numerical caps on its nuclear arsenalMonday's announcement formalizes this commitment into a direct offer, seemingly aimed at restarting a broader strategic dialogue with Washington. The world is now watching to see how the United States will respond to this unexpected diplomatic gesture in a period of heightened
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