Russia indicated on Monday that the prospects for extending the last significant nuclear arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington, the two largest nuclear powers, appear grim, with the situation seemingly at an impasse.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, which limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can maintain, as well as the deployment of land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers, is set to expire in less than a year, specifically on February 5, 2026.
During his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from another critical agreement, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, leaving the New START treaty as the sole remaining framework for nuclear arms control.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, responsible for U.S. relations and arms control, stated at a news conference in Moscow on Monday that the chances for negotiations to amend and extend the treaty currently seem unfavorable.
“Our discussions regarding nuclear strategic stability and the situation following the expiration of New START do not appear very encouraging,” Ryabkov remarked.
“The treaty will cease to exist on February 5, 2026.”
In January, Trump expressed a desire to pursue nuclear arms reductions, suggesting that he believed both Russia and China might be open to decreasing their own arsenals.
Russia indicated on Monday that the prospects for extending the last significant nuclear arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington, the two largest nuclear powers, appear grim, with the situation seemingly at an impasse.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, which limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can maintain, as well as the deployment of land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers, is set to expire in less than a year, specifically on February 5, 2026.
During his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from another critical agreement, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, leaving the New START treaty as the sole remaining framework for nuclear arms control.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, responsible for U.S. relations and arms control, stated at a news conference in Moscow on Monday that the chances for negotiations to amend and extend the treaty currently seem unfavorable.
“Our discussions regarding nuclear strategic stability and the situation following the expiration of New START do not appear very encouraging,” Ryabkov remarked.
“The treaty will cease to exist on February 5, 2026.”
In January, Trump expressed a desire to pursue nuclear arms reductions, suggesting that he believed both Russia and China might be open to decreasing their own arsenals.
