World leaders Donald J. Trump of the United States and Russian head Vladimir Putin meet in Helsinki on Monday, July 16 to deal on arms issues, a report from Reuters said.
One of the pressing matters the two are expected to discuss may include the "New Start" treaty signed between two global powerhouses.
New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) or the "Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms" is the latest iteration of the earlier Treaty of Moscow (SORT) which basically entails the nuclear arms reduction initiative between US and Russia.
In 2017, Trump expressed his disagreement to the treaty negotiated by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, saying that the provisions favored Moscow.
However, the latest developments indicated that Washington may eye on extending the agreement to 2026.
It remains to be seen how the bilateral meeting turns out, whether the 72-year-old American state head will change stance or will demand amendments to some of the provisions.
Other than New Start, the Reuters report meanwhile said that the two camps may also discuss on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty or the INF.
Signed in 1987, the INF Treaty signed between General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and then-US President Ronald Reagan on 1987, sought to eliminate all nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges between 310 and 3,420 miles (500 and 5,500 km).
Moscow official Yuri Ushakov told reporters there is a likelihood for the two leaders to come up with a "joint statement" that will set out their course of actions to ensure stability and security of the two nations.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, said that aside from the INF and New Start, there are no new agreements lined up in the agenda.
Political analysts believe the summit may yield favorable results for both countries. Trump earlier said that it will be different this time, now that he's on the helm of the negotiation.
"I think I'd have a very good relationship with President Putin if we spend time together," Trump was quoted as saying over at CNN. "Other people have said it didn't work out, but I'm different than other people."
