The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between Russia and the United States has reached its expiration, and noted that the parties are no longer operating under the framework of the agreement.
The ministry said Russia had not received a formal official response from the United States to its proposal to continue voluntary restraint on nuclear arms ceilings beyond the treaty’s expiry on February 5.
“In the current circumstances, we believe that the parties to the New START are no longer bound by obligations or related declarations under the treaty, including its core provisions, and may determine their future approach independently,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that Russia remains open to political and diplomatic efforts aimed at maintaining strategic stability, while continuing to assess measures necessary to safeguard national security, reports Xinhua news agency.
Signed in 2010, the New START treaty was aimed at limiting the number of deployed nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles held by Russia and the United States. It entered into force on February 5, 2011, for an initial period of 10 years and was later extended until February 5, 2026.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in September 2025 that Russia would continue to observe the treaty’s core limits for one year following its expiration, provided the United States refrains from steps that could affect the strategic balance.
US President Donald Trump said in January that he was not concerned about the treaty’s expiration and expressed hope that the two countries would work towards a new agreement.
New START was the last remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the two countries after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019.
—IANS
