--- title: "Trump Confirms Denuclearization Negotiations with Russia and China Following Expiration of New START" description: "Trump has announced denuclearization talks with Russia and China after the New START treaty expired in early 2026. Meanwhile, Russia has been increasing its deployed nuclear arsenals for the fourth year in a row." date: 2026-10-16T23:01:35.101Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/trump-confirms-denuclearization-talks-with-russia-and-china tags: [nuclear-disarmament, us-russia, us-china, new-start, trump, sipri, nato] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Trump Confirms Denuclearization Negotiations with Russia and China Following Expiration of New START ![Donald Trump with a serious expression at a political event wearing a blue suit and red tie](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/tramp-peregovory-po-denuklearizacii-s-rossiey-i-kitajem/tramp-peregovory-po-denuklearizacii-s-rossiey-i-kitajem-1.webp) ## Key Points - Trump confirmed denuclearization talks with Russia and China - New START expired in early 2026; no formal restrictions on strategic arms exist between the U.S. and Russia - Russia has been increasing its deployed nuclear warheads for four consecutive years—the highest in 9 years - According to SIPRI, Russia leads in total warhead count, while the U.S. leads in deployed warheads - Zelenskyy urged Beijing to influence Putin; Sept 24 marked Xi Jinping's first U.S. state visit in 11 years U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly stated that Washington is conducting negotiations with Moscow and Beijing aimed at the denuclearization of nations possessing the largest nuclear arsenals. According to the White House leader, "this whole thing is a disgrace, because I would really like to denuclearize if possible, but we are indeed negotiating with Russia about this, and we are negotiating with China about this denuclearization." The statement comes against the backdrop of the early 2026 expiration of the New START treaty, which was signed in 2010 and extended for five years by the decision of Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Any new extension or replacement of the treaty will require a decision by the executive branch to voluntarily expand its scope. ### Nuclear Parity and SIPRI Data According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia possesses the largest number of nuclear warheads in the world, followed by the United States and China. However, in terms of deployed warheads, the U.S. leads Russia. Trump previously stated that he expects a "catch-up" growth in China's nuclear potential over the next five years. It is precisely this dynamic that seemingly dictates the urgency of Washington’s initiative to conclude a new multilateral agreement. ### Context: Russia Expands Deployed Arsenals In parallel with the denuclearization talks, Russia has been increasing the number of its deployed nuclear warheads for the fourth consecutive year. According to available data, their stockpile on delivery vehicles has reached its highest level in the last nine years. Against this backdrop, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart rejected Russia’s recent warning to the Alliance regarding the Kaliningrad region, labeling the Russian statements as "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric." Thus, the diplomatic track on nuclear disarmament is developing simultaneously with an increase in containment rhetoric from both sides. ### Ukraine in the Perimeter of Negotiations As reported by Focus, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated to Donald Trump in New York that involving Xi Jinping in peace efforts could influence Vladimir Putin. On September 24, Trump and Xi Jinping held talks in Washington—the first state visit of the Chinese leader to the U.S. in 11 years. Political scientist Viktor Taran notes that "without China, the pressure on Russia will always be incomplete," yet whether this plan works will be determined not by statements, but by concrete steps: Moscow's reaction to an energy truce, Trump's willingness to apply sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Act, and the behavior of Chinese companies in trade with Russia. Experts warn that instead of pressuring Moscow, Washington might demand concessions from Kyiv as part of a so-called "grand bargain." ### What’s Next: Legal and Diplomatic Prospects Following the expiration of New START in early 2026, there are no formal restrictions on the number of strategic offensive arms between the U.S. and Russia. The new treaty that Trump is referring to would have to account for the interests of three nuclear powers—the U.S., Russia, and China—which fundamentally differentiates it from the bilateral model of previous agreements. The results of the negotiations have not been published yet, and their format, timeline, and specific parameters for arsenal reduction remain the subject of closed-door discussions. The next public signals will likely emerge during preparations for future summits and bilateral high-level meetings. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Трамп собирается договориться с Россией и Китаем о ядерном оружии](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/tramp-zbiraetsya-domovitisya-rosieyu-ta-kitaem-1792173135.html) - Direct statement by Trump on denuclearization talks, SIPRI data, expiration of New START, increase in Russian deployed arsenals, NATO comment on Kaliningrad. - [Трамп готовит "большую сделку": как Украина оказалась между переговорами США с Россией и Китаем](https://focus.ua/eksklyuzivy/768764-tramp-i-si-rubio-i-lavrov-chto-peregovory-ssha-s-kitaem-i-rossiey-znachat-dlya-ukrainy-fokus) - Контекст переговоров Трамп–Си Цзиньпин 24.09.2026, заявление Зеленского в Нью-Йорке, оценка политолога Виктора Тарана, упоминание переговоров Рубио–Лавров. ## FAQ ### Has the New START treaty expired? Yes. The New START treaty, signed in 2010 and extended for five years by Biden and Putin, expired in early 2026. Any further extension requires executive action by the U.S. government. ### Who possesses the most nuclear warheads? According to SIPRI, Russia has the most nuclear warheads globally, followed by the U.S. and China. The U.S. leads in the number of deployed warheads. ### What is NATO's stance on Russian nuclear rhetoric? NATO spokesperson Allison Hart rejected Russia's warning regarding the Kaliningrad region as "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric." ### What is Ukraine's role in this? Zelenskyy told Trump in New York that involving Xi Jinping could impact Putin. Experts warn that Washington might seek concessions from Kyiv as part of a "grand bargain."