Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Washington is now seriously evaluating President Vladimir Putin’s latest proposal on nuclear arms control, according to Russian media reports published Friday.
Lavrov told journalists that Moscow has submitted “specific ideas” to the United States aimed at preventing further deterioration in nuclear stability and avoiding a collapse of remaining arms control frameworks. “The Americans are discussing it internally. They are considering it,” Lavrov said, calling the moment “a narrow window where dialogue is still possible.”
There has been no immediate public confirmation from U.S. officials that the proposal is under active review, but experts note that Washington has been under growing pressure to keep channels open with Moscow on nuclear risk reduction — especially after Russia suspended parts of the New START treaty and signalled that further limits would only remain in place temporarily.
Lavrov’s comment comes as global nuclear tensions rise across multiple regions — with Russia warning of breakdowns in treaty architecture, China building up its arsenal at record pace, the U.S. debating modernization and testing doctrines, and secondary nuclear states from North Korea to Pakistan expanding capabilities without formal oversight.
Arms control analysts say that even partial dialogue between Moscow and Washington could slow the trend toward a dangerous new arms race. But they warn that the political environment remains “the most polarised in decades” — with both capitals locked in disputes over Ukraine, sanctions, war crimes allegations, cyber operations, and global influence.
Whether Putin’s proposal leads to meaningful negotiations — or simply becomes another talking point in a collapsing architecture — depends on what concrete steps both governments take next.