Putin says 'ready to negotiate' with US over extending arms control deal

Russian president Putin said that Russia and the US "keep in touch" regarding the prolongation of the New START treaty limiting nuclear warheads, an extension offered to Washington by Moscow. Speaking at a press conference in Tajikistan, Putin says he expects the "few months" left until February 2026, when the treaty is due to expire, to be "enough" to extend it.

It also allowed both sides to carry out on-site inspections of the other's nuclear arsenal, although these were halted during the coronavirus pandemic and have not resumed since.