Russia has not seen any positive steps from the new US administration on disarmament, said Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva. He shared this in an interview published on Sunday (February 9). Currently, Russia holds the second-largest nuclear arsenal, after the US. “We are ready to maintain smooth relations with any American administration,” Gatilov told state news agency RIA Novosti.

Disarmament Conference and No Progress

Moreover, Gatilov emphasized that Russia is open to cooperation within the Conference on Disarmament. However, he pointed out that no positive progress has been made in Geneva so far. The Conference on Disarmament, based in Geneva, has led to several key arms control agreements, including the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Russian Hopes for US Action

On the other hand, President Vladimir Putin has suggested that a potential return of former US President Donald Trump could help reset US-Russia relations. “We are closely monitoring the rhetoric and first steps of the new US administration,” Gatilov said. “We expect them to act on their words, as they have said a lot since January 20.” Both Trump and Putin have expressed interest in meeting in person. Additionally, Trump has stated his desire to end the war in Ukraine, which began nearly three years ago with Russia’s invasion.

No New Talks on Nuclear Arms Control

Finally, Gatilov noted that there have been no new discussions with Washington on nuclear arms control or broader security issues. The New START treaty, the last nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia, will expire on February 5, 2026. This treaty limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads, as well as the missiles and bombers that can carry them.