Russia says it’s willing to keep sticking to the key limits of the New START Treaty for another year after it expires in February 2026—but only if the United States mirrors that move.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the announcement Monday in Moscow, stressing the need for equal action from Washington. “We’re ready to keep enforcing those quantitative restrictions for a year. That’s our plan,” Peskov told reporters. “But of course, this needs a matching stance from the United States.”
The New START Treaty, which caps deployed intercontinental nuclear weapons and boosts security for both nations, came up in recent talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Peskov noted that the leaders touched on how time is running out. “We’re right on the edge of losing any bilateral agreements that keep stability and security in check,” he said, responding to questions from Russia’s Tass news agency.
Putin didn’t pitch the idea of extending the arms control treaty ahead of time during those meetings, Peskov added. Just a day earlier, on September 22, Putin told Russia’s Security Council that Moscow would hold to the treaty’s central limits post-expiration, but only with U.S. reciprocity.
For now, no date is set for the next Putin-Trump summit. “We don’t have a clear timeline yet for their next contact,” Peskov told Tass.
The treaty, formally known as the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, got extended by both sides until February 4, 2026. U.S. officials say it strengthens national security by verifying limits on Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal. As arms control talks between Russia and the U.S. heat up, this offer could pave the way for renewed efforts to avoid a gap in nuclear regulations.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
