US willing to discuss nuclear weapons control with Russia 'without conditions'

The United States is ready to talk to Russia about a future nuclear arms control framework without preconditions, a top White House official said on Friday, even as it takes countermeasures in response to the Kremlin's decision to suspend the two countries' last nuclear arms control treaty.

The Biden administration's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told the annual meeting of the Arms Control Association that the US is committed to adhering to the  New START treaty provided that Russia also does.

According to Sullivan, Washington wants to open a dialogue on a new framework for managing nuclear risks once the treaty expires in February 2026.

"It is in neither of our countries' interest to embark on opening the competition in the strategic nuclear forces," Sullivan said. "And rather than waiting to resolve all of our bilateral differences, the United States is ready to engage Russia now to manage nuclear risks and develop a post 2026" agreement.

He added that the US is willing to stick to the treaty's warhead caps until the pact ends.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in February he was suspending Russia's cooperation with New START, which provides for inspections of the two country's nuclear warhead and missile inspections.

The treaty, which was signed by then-Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers and provides for on-site inspections to verify compliance.

The move came one year into Moscow's attack on Ukraine, in the course of which the safety of key nuclear sites has been placed in severe jeopardy.

However, Russia has also said it will respect the treaty's caps on weapons numbers.

The White