US President Donald Trump has said Washington is discussing nuclear disarmament with Russia and China, renewing attention on efforts to limit the world's largest nuclear arsenals. Speaking in an interview with Newsmax, Trump described the continued development of nuclear weapons as a shame and said he would like to see the countries move towards denuclearisation.

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Trump said he expects China’s nuclear capabilities to catch up with those of the United States within the next five years. He also stated that discussions were taking place with Moscow and Beijing, adding that he had already spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the issue.

The comments come amid continued international concern over nuclear weapons development and the future of arms control agreements. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia, the United States and China are the three leading nuclear powers in terms of their nuclear warhead inventories, although estimates differ depending on whether deployed, stored or retired warheads are counted.

Trump has previously called for reductions in nuclear weapons and defence spending, arguing that resources devoted to expanding nuclear arsenals could be used for more productive purposes. He has also warned that the use of such weapons could have devastating consequences.

The future of nuclear arms control has become more uncertain following the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) earlier in 2026, as stated in the supplied report. Signed by the United States and Russia in 2010, the treaty established limits on the two countries’ deployed strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems. China was not a party to the agreement.

Trump's latest remarks indicate an interest in discussions involving all three major nuclear powers. However, public statements about negotiations do not, by themselves, establish that a formal agreement has been reached or that a new framework is in place.

Any progress towards nuclear disarmament would depend on sustained diplomatic engagement, verification arrangements and agreement on how reductions would be implemented. The scale of the arsenals involved makes cooperation among Washington, Moscow and Beijing a significant challenge for international security.