New START Treaty Expires as Russia, US End Nuclear Arms Limits

Photo credit: The times of Israel

Russia has formally confirmed the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), marking the end of binding limits on strategic nuclear weapons between Moscow and Washington.

In a statement on Wednesday, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the treaty officially terminated on February 5, 2026, and that neither Russia nor the United States is now bound by its provisions.

Signed in 2010, implemented in 2011 and extended once in 2021, New START was designed to limit and reduce the deployment of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems, while providing transparency and predictability in bilateral nuclear relations.

Russia recalled that it suspended its participation in the agreement in February 2023, citing what it described as repeated violations and hostile actions by the United States that undermined the treaty’s foundations.

According to Moscow, U.S. military policies- particularly in the area of missile defence-disrupted the strategic balance envisaged by New START and rendered full implementation of the agreement impossible.

Despite these disputes, Russia acknowledged that the treaty largely achieved its objectives, contributing to substantial reductions in strategic offensive weapons and supporting global strategic stability.

The Foreign Ministry said that even after suspending its participation, Russia voluntarily continued to observe the treaty’s core numerical limits until its expiration, a commitment the United States had also pledged to maintain.

Russia further disclosed that President Vladimir Putin proposed in September 2025 that both countries extend voluntary restraints on strategic arms for at least one year beyond the treaty’s expiration, but said the initiative received no formal response from Washington.

With New START now expired, Moscow said there are no longer any binding obligations or reciprocal commitments governing strategic nuclear forces between the two countries.

The statement added that Russia would determine its future strategic arms policy based on assessments of U.S. military posture and broader global security developments, while remaining open to dialogue on arms control if talks are conducted on equal and mutually beneficial terms.