AI SUMMARY – What You Should Know Before Reading:
- Russia announced it will continue observing New START nuclear limits, provided the United States does the same.
- The New START treaty expired in early February and was the last major arms control agreement between the two powers.
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said a moratorium declared by President Vladimir Putin remains in effect.
- Washington seeks to include China in future arms talks; Moscow argues the U.K. and France should also participate.
MOSCOW — In a development that could ease fears of a renewed nuclear arms race, Russia said it would continue to adhere to the limits set under the New START agreement — on the condition that the United States does the same.
The announcement comes after the treaty formally expired in early February, marking the end of the last remaining arms control framework between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. Together, Washington and Moscow possess roughly 90 percent of the global nuclear arsenal, making their bilateral agreements central to global strategic stability.
Lavrov: Moratorium Still in Force
Speaking before lawmakers in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia is not rushing to develop or deploy additional strategic weapons. He referenced a moratorium previously declared by President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that it remains valid — but only under reciprocal conditions.
“We proceed from the assumption that the moratorium announced by our president remains in effect, but only as long as the United States does not exceed the established limits,” Lavrov said, according to Russian state media.
He added that Russia would act “responsibly and in a balanced manner,” guided by ongoing assessments of U.S. military policy and the broader strategic environment.
The remarks appear to soften earlier statements from Russian officials suggesting that Moscow no longer considered itself bound by the treaty’s provisions.
The Future of Nuclear Arms Control
Signed in 2010, New START capped the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems each side could maintain. It also established verification mechanisms, including inspections and data exchanges, designed to reduce the risk of miscalculation.
With the treaty’s expiration, analysts have warned of a potential vacuum in nuclear arms oversight. Although both sides have expressed interest in negotiating a successor agreement, significant obstacles remain.
Washington has argued that future arms control talks should include China, citing concerns over Beijing’s expanding nuclear capabilities. Moscow, however, has countered that if China is to be included, then other nuclear-armed U.S. allies — namely the United Kingdom and France — should also be part of any new framework.
Strategic Stability at a Crossroads
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly in the context of ongoing geopolitical conflicts. Experts caution that even informal commitments to respect existing limits could play a stabilizing role in an increasingly volatile security environment.
Still, without a legally binding successor agreement, the long-term future of nuclear arms control remains uncertain. Whether Moscow and Washington can translate cautious signals into concrete negotiations may determine whether the world avoids a new era of nuclear competition.