Trump Says US Is Talking to Russia and China About Denuclearization

President Donald Trump said on Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 that the United States is holding talks with Russia and China aimed at cutting the nuclear arsenals of the three countries with the largest stockpiles.

Trump made the disclosure in an interview with Newsmax. He said he would like to denuclearize if possible, and that Washington is talking to Moscow about it and talking to Beijing about it too. Reuters reported the comments on Oct 15.

He gave no timetable for the talks. He announced no agreement with either country.

Three arsenals, three different counts

Trump ranked the United States first, Russia second and China third, and he predicted China could catch up with the United States within five years.

The count depends on what is counted. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute figures cited by Reuters, Russia holds the most stored nuclear warheads, followed by the United States and then China. The United States leads Russia on deployed warheads, the warheads placed on missiles or at bases ready for use.

Newsmax reported that Trump has spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about denuclearization. Trump disclosed in May that he had discussed the subject with Xi, and he said then that Russia should also take part in efforts to cut nuclear weapons.

A treaty that has already expired

The comments come months after the New START treaty expired earlier in 2026. The treaty was signed in 2010. It allowed one extension, and former President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to extend it for five years.

That extension has now run out. Any further move to keep the old limits in place would need a voluntary decision to observe them, Reuters reported. Without a treaty or a new understanding, no binding cap now sits over the American and Russian arsenals, and China was never part of New START.

China has resisted joining three way talks before. On Aug 27, 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said it was unreasonable and unrealistic to ask China to join nuclear disarmament negotiations with the United States and Russia. He said the nuclear forces of China and the United States are not at the same level, and that countries with the largest arsenals should meet their disarmament responsibilities first. China says it follows a policy of no first use and will not join an arms race.

What Trump did not say

Trump did not say who is conducting the talks, where they are being held, or what cuts are on the table. He did not say whether Russia or China has agreed to any limit.

That leaves the disclosure as a statement of intent and of contact, not a deal. Past efforts show why the distinction matters. Arms control talks between Washington and Moscow have stalled and restarted for years, and Beijing has so far refused a three way format.

For now, readers have the president's word that talks are happening with both capitals. The next test is whether Moscow or Beijing confirms the same talks, and whether any side puts numbers, dates or inspectors on the record.