Last arms pact ends for U.S., Russia

The Kremlin said Thursday that it regretted the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, and President Trump declared he was against keeping its limits and wants a better deal.

- BY VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

ATTILA KISBENEDEK AFP/Getty Images WORKERS have poured concrete for a reactor near Hungary's sole nuclear plant, beginning an expansion project led by Russia's Rosatom.

The pact’s termination left no caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than half a century, fueling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last year declared his readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington followed suit, but Trump has ignored the offer and argued that he wants China to be a part of a new pact — something Beijing has rebuffed.

"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 posted on his social media website.

Putin discussed the pact’s expiration with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, noting the U.S. failure to respond to his proposal to extend its limits and saying that Russia "will act in a balanced and responsible manner based on thorough analysis of the security situation," Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow views the treaty’s expiration Thursday “negatively” and regrets it.

He said Russia will maintain its “responsible, thorough approach to stability when it comes to nuclear weapons,” adding that “of course, it will be guided primarily by its national interests.

”Peskov emphasized that “if we receive constructive responses, we will certainly conduct a dialogue.”