Russia has announced it is ready to continue observing nuclear warhead limits under its existing arms treaty with the United States, but only for an additional year and on the condition that Washington does the same.
The deal in question, the New START treaty, was signed in 2010 and stands as the last major nuclear arms control agreement between the two global powers. It restricts both countries to no more than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads each, marking nearly a 30 percent cut from earlier levels. The treaty is scheduled to expire on February 5, 2026, and so far, neither side has agreed on a long-term extension.
During a televised meeting, President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was prepared to respect the treaty’s central limits beyond its expiration date, emphasizing the move as a safeguard against “a strategic arms race” with Washington. However, he warned that the offer would only hold if the United States refrained from taking actions that might upset the delicate balance of nuclear deterrence.
Russia suspended its formal participation in the treaty in 2023 but has continued to voluntarily comply with the agreed numerical caps. The Kremlin’s latest proposal signals that Moscow still sees value in maintaining some guardrails on nuclear competition, even as relations with Washington remain deeply strained.
