Russia Welcomes Trump’s Blessing of Proposal to Extend Caps on Nuclear Weapons

In a development that has been met with cautious optimism, Russian officials have welcomed President Donald Trump's tentative endorsement of a proposal to extend existing limits on long-range nuclear weapons. The proposal, which was put forth by Russia, suggests extending by one year the current caps on nuclear arsenals.According to sources, President Trump expressed his initial support for the idea, stating that it "sounded like a good idea to me." This statement was made during a press conference, where Trump hinted at the possibility of further negotiations with Russia on nuclear disarmament.The potential extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) has been a topic of discussion between the United States and Russia for several months. The treaty, which was signed in 2010, imposes limits on the number of long-range nuclear missiles and bombers that each country can possess. With the treaty's expiration looming, both sides have been engaged in talks to extend or replace it.Russia has been pushing for a straightforward extension of the treaty, citing the importance of maintaining stability and predictability in nuclear arms control. The Kremlin views the potential extension as a crucial step in preventing a new nuclear arms race and reducing the risk of nuclear conflict.While Trump's comments suggest a positive shift in the US stance, details of the proposal remain scarce, and significant hurdles still need to be overcome before an agreement can be reached. Nevertheless, the prospect of extending the nuclear caps has been met with relief by many experts and policymakers, who warn that the absence of such a treaty could lead to increased nuclear tensions between the world's two largest nuclear powers.