WASHINGTON - A U.S. official called the agreement a byproduct of ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The deal came as a key nuclear treaty between Washington and Moscow expired. The United States and Russia will resume a high-level military dialogue that was suspended just before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, officials said Thursday. It's the latest signal that the Trump administration is seeking normalized relations with Moscow, despite the expiration of a key nuclear arms treaty between the two powers.

Thursday marked the end of the New START treaty, which limits the number and types of nuclear weapons each country maintains. In response, President Donald Trump called for a „new, improved and modernized“ treaty that could last for a long time.

Both events coincided with the latest efforts to end the four-year conflict in Ukraine. The decision to resume military negotiations between Washington and Moscow was a direct byproduct of peace talks that have so far failed to produce a significant breakthrough to stop the fighting, according to one U.S. official. U.S.-Russian interactions in recent days have created space for further dialogue, the official said.

The Kremlin has not officially commented on the resumption of military talks and its embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The expiration of the nuclear treaty has alarmed nonproliferation experts, who fear it will spur a new, destabilizing arms race as both sides explore short-range nuclear weapons and potential new uses - including in space.

Trump also hinted that a future US battleship could serve as a platform for launching nuclear missiles. For now, there is no agreement between the two sides to abide by the terms of the expired treaty, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Her Russian counterpart, Dmitry Peskov, said that „everything will depend on the development of events“ and that Russia „will maintain its responsible approach to strategic stability in the field of nuclear weapons, first and foremost guided by its national interests.“.

washingtonpost.com