The Kremlin announced that Russia no longer considers itself subject to limits on nuclear weapons, following the formal expiration of the last arms control treaty with the United States. Russian authorities maintain that the absence of an extension agreement frees their strategic forces from previously agreed caps on warheads and delivery systems. Moscow assured that it will act in a "responsible" manner, although the end of the treaty has revived fears of a new arms race.

First modification: 02/05/2026 - 07:00

Russia declared Wednesday that it is "no longer obliged" to limit the number of nuclear warheads it can deploy, as its last arms control treaty with the United States is set to expire.

The New Start agreement will conclude on Thursday, formally freeing both Moscow and Washington from a series of restrictions on their nuclear arsenals.

Activists have warned that the treaty's demise could trigger a new arms race between the world's major nuclear powers and encourage China to expand its arsenal.

"We assume that the parties to the New Start treaty are no longer bound by any symmetrical obligations or declarations within the framework of the treaty," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The Russian Federation intends to act responsibly and prudently,” he added, although he warned that he is prepared to take “decisive” countermeasures if his national security is threatened.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered in September to continue respecting the treaty's warhead limits for a year, but, according to the Kremlin, he did not receive a formal response from Washington.

US President Donald Trump said at the time that it "sounded like a good idea", but there were no subsequent negotiations.

A Kremlin adviser previously stated that Moscow was "open" to dialogue on the matter.

The US wants to include China

The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, when asked about the end of the New Start, did not seem to be in a hurry to extend it and limited himself to saying that Trump would address the issue later.

"The president has been clear in the past that to achieve true arms control in the 21st century, it is impossible to do anything that does not include China, given its vast and rapidly growing arsenal," Rubio said.

The treaty was signed in 2010 by the then Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, and his American counterpart, Barack Obama.

China's nuclear arsenal is growing rapidly, but remains far below the levels of Russia and the United States.

During his first term, Trump also seemed willing to let the New Start lapse by insisting on including China.

Joe Biden agreed with Russia to extend the New Start for five years after defeating Trump in the 2020 elections, but tensions between the two countries subsequently deteriorated due to Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

The treaty, signed in 2010 by Medvedev and Obama, limited each side's nuclear arsenal to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads, a reduction of almost 30% from the previous limit set in 2002.

It also allowed on-site inspections of the other side's nuclear arsenal, although these were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and have not resumed since.

Russia froze its participation in the deal in 2023 but said it continued to voluntarily comply with warhead limits.

Pope's call

Pope Leo XIV said Wednesday that each side must do “everything possible” to avoid a new arms race.

“I urge you not to abandon this instrument without ensuring that it has a concrete and effective continuation,” said the pontiff, of American origin, during his weekly general audience.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons called on Russia and the United States to commit to respecting the limits of the New Start while a new agreement is negotiated.

"Without New Start, there is a real danger that a new arms race between the United States and Russia will accelerate — more warheads, more delivery systems, more exercises — and that other nuclear-armed states will feel pressure to keep pace," said Melissa Parke, executive director of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists last month advanced its iconic “Doomsday Clock” further toward midnight than ever, amid fears that the expiration of the agreement could start an arms race.

Germany blames Russia

Russia and the United States together control more than 80% of the world's nuclear warheads, but arms control agreements have been fading.

In 2019, both countries withdrew from the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which limited the use of medium-range missiles.

In 2023, Putin signed a law that revoked Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, although Moscow said it would continue to respect the moratorium on atomic testing.

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In October, Trump ordered the Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing to match China and Russia, although he has not put the order into practice.

This article is an adaptation of its original in English

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