U. S. President Donald Trump said that, in his view, both Russia and China are interested in denuclearization. The American leader has repeatedly stated that he seeks to reduce nuclear arsenals and has voiced support for Russia’s proposals aimed at de-escalation in the nuclear sphere. At the same time, despite these public statements, he previously instructed the U.S. to conduct nuclear weapons tests «on equal footing» with other states that allegedly have similar programs.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said he had discussed denuclearization with both China and Russia, adding that he believed it was something all sides would like to pursue. He did not specify when these conversations took place.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that after February 5, 2026, Russia is prepared to continue observing the limitations outlined in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for one additional year. He noted that maintaining these restrictions would make sense only if the United States acted reciprocally. Several media outlets reported that Trump described Putin’s proposal on START as a good idea.