⚖️🕊️ New START treaty expires, US and Russia push for new nuclear talks

Oneliner

The New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia expired on 5 February 2026, ending formal limits on nuclear arsenals. President Trump rejected Russia's offer to extend the treaty, advocating instead for a new, modernized agreement that includes China. U.S. and Russian officials have agreed to initiate discussions on a new arms control framework, emphasizing the need for strategic stability. However, China's participation remains uncertain, as Beijing has declined to engage in negotiations at this time.

Key points

• The New START treaty expired on 5 February 2026, ending formal limits on nuclear arsenals.
• President Trump rejected Russia's offer to extend the treaty, advocating for a new, modernized agreement.
• Both nations agreed to initiate discussions on a new arms control framework, emphasizing the need for strategic stability.
• China's involvement in future negotiations remains uncertain, as Beijing has declined to participate.

Links

• Diário de Notícias: New START discutido em Abu Dhabi por EUA e Rússia
• Deutsche Welle: Trump pide nuevo tratado nuclear "modernizado" con Rusia
• Público: Trump rechaza la oferta de Putin de prorrogar por un año el acuerdo que limita las armas nucleares
• Europa Press: Rusia recalca que una extensión del Nuevo START debe ser "formal" y considera "inconcebible" algo "informal"
• BFMTV: Désarmement nucléaire: la Russie se dit prête à d'éventuelles négociations multilatérales si la France et le Royaume-Uni y participent
• Associated Press: Russia and US discussed nuclear arms and agreed talks need to start soon, Kremlin says
• Le Figaro: Désarmement nucléaire: Moscou demande que Paris et Londres participent à d'éventuelles négociations multilatérales
• Gazzetta di Parma: Mosca, 'colloqui sul nucleare se partecipano anche Parigi e Londra'
• wiadomosci.wp.pl: "Jest zrozumienie". Rozmowy ws. broni nuklearnej z Rosją
• wiadomosci.wp.pl: Ostry wpis Rubio. Chodzi o broń jądrową
• Europa Press: Washington asegura que un tratado de armas nucleares sin China dejará a EEUU y sus aliados "menos seguros"

Facts

• New START treaty expired on 5 February 2026.
• The treaty limited each side to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads.
• Trump rejected Putin's proposal for a one-year extension of the treaty.
• U.S. and Russian officials met in Abu Dhabi to discuss new arms control talks.
• China has declined to participate in future nuclear negotiations.

Quotes

• Instead of extending New START, we should have our nuclear experts work on a new, improved and modernized treaty that can last a long time into the future — Donald Trump
• There is an understanding... that both sides will adopt a responsible position — Dmitry Peskov
• The unraveling of decades of arms-control achievements could not have come at a worse time — António Guterres

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