At the United Nations in New York, the former Soviet leader warned against the dangers of such stockpiles, saying "even one thousandth of our joint arsenal could destroy all life on Earth."

"I think we have to review military doctrine," the Nobel Peace Prize holder said, in comments directed at Washington and Moscow.

"We have to get rid of the nuclear weapons. So eliminating nuclear weapons, reducing them (at) the speed at which we've been doing, that has been slowing down recently," Gorbachev said.

The former Soviet leader expressed particular concern about the US' commitment to opening a new nuclear dialogue with Russia.

"I hope the Russian side is ready for this. The question is whether the US is ready for such cooperation.

"Because the US suffers from the sickness, the disease of being the victor, it has to cure itself of that disease," Gorbachev said.

He urged US President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin to foster a new nuclear initiative.

"Our two leaders need to come up with some joint initiative, some new approach, but what is crucial to that effort is trust," he said.

Gorbachev left office in 1992. He lives in Moscow overseeing the work of The Gorbachev Foundation.