Trump's hunt for foreign policy wins hits Russian wall | TheHill

President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichigan court overturns absentee ballot extension Trump jokes he'll 'find a way' to fire Gov. DeSantis if he loses Florida Biden hits Trump's response to attempted kidnapping of Michigan governor: 'What the hell is wrong with this guy?' MORE’s efforts to secure foreign policy wins heading into the presidential election have hit a wall in arms control talks with Russia.The Russians, perhaps hedging their bets in case Democratic nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump jokes he'll 'find a way' to fire Gov. DeSantis if he loses Florida Biden hits Trump's response to attempted kidnapping of Michigan governor: 'What the hell is wrong with this guy?' Trump on if Biden wins: 'Maybe I'll have to leave the country' MORE wins in November, recently rejected the Trump administration’s latest offer, while on Friday, the administration rejected Moscow’s counteroffer to extend the existing New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).The impasse has dimmed prospects for a deal before Election Day, depriving Trump of an accomplishment he could tout in the remaining days of the campaign.Arms control advocates were unsurprised at the latest developments, arguing Trump squandered much of his tenure and treated the talks with urgency only as the election drew near.“The administration really didn't get serious about talking to the Russians on a potential extension of New START and a broader agreement until this spring. “The broad support that continues to be given to New START by many members of the U.S. Congress gives us hope that bipartisan efforts within the U.S. government can help ensure the treaty’s survival.”New START is the last treaty constraining the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals after Trump, followed by Putin, withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty last year.If New START expires, it would be the first time in decades with no treaty limiting U.S. and Russia nuclear weapons.Laura Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador now on the board at political nonprofit Foreign Policy for America, said both the United States and Russia now appear “more interested in positioning themselves as the reasonable party than they are intent on actually reaching a deal.”“Recent U.S. and Russia talks on the vital issue of extending New START have deteriorated into a volley of tweets now centering on a one-year vs.