Russia, U.S. extend arms pact as Biden, Putin talk

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A ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile is launched from the Plesetsk facility during a drill in northwestern Russia, December 9, 2020. /AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden Tuesday discussed arms control issue during their first phone conversation.

The White House said in a statement that Biden and Putin discussed both countries' willingness to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for five years, agreeing to have their teams work urgently to complete the extension by February 5.

"They also agreed to explore strategic stability discussions on a range of arms control and emerging security issues."

Kremline said Putin and Biden "expressed satisfaction" that diplomatic notes between the two nations had been exchanged earlier on Tuesday confirming the pact would be extended and that procedures required for the pact to come into force before it expires would be completed in the coming days.

In its statement, the Kremlin said that Putin had told Biden a normalization of relations between Moscow and Washington would be in both countries' interest.

It also said the two leaders had also talked about Iran's nuclear program.

Kremlin: Vigorous efforts needed

Vigorous efforts are needed for Russia and the U.S. to reach a deal on extending the START nuclear arms control pact before it expires next month, the Kremlin said earlier on Tuesday after Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council and new U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed this matter in a phone call on Monday.

Regarding the conversation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow and Washington were stepping up efforts to extend the pact because its expiration was rapidly approaching.

"Vigorous efforts are required to secure an extension," Peskov told reporters on a conference call. "The extension is in the interest of both countries, as well as the whole world."

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks as Joe Biden announces his national security nominees and appointees at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 24, 2020. /Reuters

New START, which was signed in 2010 and is set to expire on February 5, limits the numbers of strategic nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers that Russia and the United States can deploy.

A failure to extend New START could fuel a potential arms race and tensions between Moscow and Washington, defense experts have warned.

NATO welcomes U.S. intention to extend New START with Russia

(With input from Reuters, Xinhua)

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