Putin’s Nuclear Gambit: Extending START to Ease Trump's Frustration

A conditional olive branch is also a way to conceal a lack of money for a new arms race with America.

In a move that blends concession with obfuscation and coercion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a one-year extension to the New START Treaty—the last major nuclear arms control agreement between Russia and the United States—just months before its scheduled expiration. This olive branch overture, delivered during a Russian Security Council meeting on Monday, comes as Putin faces growing frustration from US President Donald Trump over his non-stop war in Ukraine and accusations from NATO neighbors due to Russian airspace incursions.