Russia Offers to Extend New START Treaty if US Agrees

NEWS BRIEF

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a one-year extension of the New START nuclear arms control treaty, which is set to expire in February 2026, provided U.S. President Donald Trump agrees to the same terms. The offer represents a temporary maintenance of the status quo amid stalled negotiations over a successor agreement, with Putin emphasizing the need to preserve global nuclear stability while allowing time for future dialogue.

WHAT HAPPENED

• President Vladimir Putin formally proposed extending the New START treaty for one year beyond its February 2026 expiration date, conditional on reciprocal action by the United States.
• The treaty currently limits each country to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, serving as the last major nuclear arms control agreement between the two powers.
• Putin framed the extension as a voluntary measure to support global non-proliferation efforts and create space for future negotiations on a more comprehensive agreement.
• The proposal explicitly requires that the U.S. refrain from actions that would undermine the existing balance of nuclear deterrence capabilities between the nations.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Prevents the complete expiration of nuclear arms controls at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions over Ukraine and other conflict zones.
• Provides a temporary stability window for potentially broader negotiations, including Trump’s suggested trilateral format involving China.
• Maintains verification and monitoring mechanisms that would otherwise disappear, leaving both sides without critical transparency.
• Represents a rare diplomatic opening between Washington and Moscow amid otherwise deteriorating relations and mutual distrust.

IMPLICATIONS

• Strategic Posturing: Putin’s public offer places pressure on Trump to reciprocate or risk being portrayed as undermining global security stability.
• Complex Negotiations: Even if extended, fundamental disagreements over Ukraine, future weapon systems, and China’s inclusion remain unresolved obstacles.
• Arms Race Concerns: Failure to agree on a successor treaty could trigger a new nuclear arms race as both countries modernize their strategic weapons systems.
• Global Non-Proliferation: The treaty’s collapse would weaken international non-proliferation efforts and potentially encourage other nuclear-armed states to expand their capabilities.

This briefing is based on information from Reuters.