Moscow – Russia has expressed concerns over the future of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), warning that the prospects for extending the last remaining pillar of nuclear arms control between Moscow and Washington do not look promising. The treaty, which caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy, is set to expire on February 5, 20261.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who oversees U.S. relations and arms control, stated that the situation appears to be deadlocked. He emphasized that the prospects for talks on amending and extending the agreement look bleak for now1.
During his first presidential term, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, leaving New START as the only remaining arms control pact between the two nations. Despite Trump’s recent comments about working towards cutting nuclear arms, Ryabkov noted that meaningful dialogue is contingent upon a significant shift in U.S.-Russia relations1.
The future of the New START treaty remains uncertain as both nations diverge on terms for future discussions, with geopolitical tensions complicating renewal negotiations.