Trump wants new, improved nuclear arms treaty as New START expires

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington should pursue a "new, improve and modernized" nuclear arms control agreement rather than extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia.

"Rather than extend "NEW START" (A badly negotiated deal by the United States that, aside from everything else, is being grossly violated), we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His remarks came as the New START Treaty expired, ending the last remaining legally binding agreement limiting American and Russian strategic nuclear forces. Russia also said Wednesday that parties to the treaty are no longer bound by its obligations.

When asked if there is a temporary extension of the agreement with Russia, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a daily press briefing, "Not to my knowledge."

Moscow said it sought to extend the treaty, noting that President Vladimir Putin proposed on Sept. 22 to keep existing caps on strategic weapons for at least one year after the treaty's termination. The Foreign Ministry said no formal US response was received through bilateral channels.

The treaty was signed on April 8, 2010, in Prague and entered into force on Feb. 5, 2011, replacing the 1991 START I Treaty, according to the US-based Arms Control Association.