President Vladimir Putin has offered the United States a clear “off-ramp” from the highway of nuclear escalation. His one-year pledge to voluntarily adhere to expired treaty limits is a visible and accessible exit from the current trajectory of confrontation.
The off-ramp was clearly marked with signs for “Stability” and “Predictability.” Putin’s announcement stressed the need to “avoid provoking a further strategic arms race” and to ensure “an acceptable level of predictability and restraint.”
However, taking this exit requires a conscious decision from the driver of the other vehicle. Putin made it clear that the off-ramp is only useful if the United States also signals and makes the turn. He stated that the policy is contingent on the U.S. acting “in a similar manner.”
The destination at the end of this off-ramp, Putin suggested, is the city of “Dialogue.” He expressed hope that taking this exit from the escalation highway could lead both nations to a place where a “substantive strategic dialogue” can occur.
For the next year, this exit will remain open. The choice for the United States is stark: continue down the path of escalating competition, or take the off-ramp that Russia has just proposed.