For decades, the United States and Soviet Union (later Russia) have co-existed in a dangerous state of mutual nuclear vulnera­bility that requires effective dialogue, mili­tary restraint, and bold action to achieve deep cuts in their massive nuclear stock­piles.

It is in the interest of both sides that the Strategic Stability Dialogue (SSD) is effective and productive. In order to seize opportunities to reduce nu­clear dangers, both sides need to move swiftly and decisively. A top priority has to be the search for a follow-on agreement or agreements to the 2010 New START Treaty, the last remaining bilateral treaty capping the world’s two largest arsenals, before it ex­pires in early 2026.

Both Russia and the United States want to broaden, in the long run, participation in the nuclear arms control process. At the upcoming 10th NPT Review Conference, Jan. 4-28, in New York, the nuclear five should support a final NPT Review Conference that calls for energetic efforts by the United States and Russia to reduce nuclear risks and maintain strategic stability and deeper engagement between the five nu­clear-armed states on nuclear disarma­ment pathways and on nuclear risk re­duction, either bilaterally and/or through a new multilateral format.

With leadership from the top and support from key U.S. allies in Europe, the two sides can and must move quickly to find effective new solutions before New START expires.

Read the full Statement by the Deep Cuts Commission outlining next steps here