Russia Commits to New START Treaty Limits Amid Expiration Concerns
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia will continue to adhere to the numerical limits of the expired New START nuclear weapons treaty, provided the United States does the same. This statement was made before the State Duma, following the treaty's expiration on February 5, 2026. The New START treaty, originally signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, capped deployed strategic warheads at 1,550 for both the U.S. and Russia. Despite the expiration, Lavrov emphasized that the moratorium declared by President Putin remains active, contingent on U.S. compliance. The treaty's expiration marks the first time in over fifty years that the world's largest nuclear arsenals are without binding restrictions. President Trump previously rejected a proposal for a one-year extension of the treaty limits, seeking a modernized agreement that includes China, which Beijing has consistently opposed. 
