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Russia, US Agree to Start New Nuclear Treaty Talks Amid Strategic Void

The Kremlin announced that Russia and the United States recognize the urgent need to begin negotiations on a successor to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. This comes after the expiration of New START, which had limited deployed strategic nuclear warheads and was a cornerstone of bilateral stability. The issue was discussed during recent trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine, where a prisoner exchange was agreed but no ceasefire breakthrough was achieved. Former US President Donald Trump has dismissed the old treaty as a "badly negotiated deal" and called for a new, modernized agreement, while the strategic vacuum leaves the world's two largest nuclear powers without any arms control constraints.

Key Points: Russia, US to Start New START Nuclear Treaty Negotiations

  • New START treaty has expired
  • Last major arms control pact is gone
  • Trump calls for a new modernized treaty
  • Prisoner swap agreed in Ukraine talks
  • US and Russia hold 87% of global nukes
2 min read

Kremlin says Russia, US recognise need to start talks on nuclear treaty

Kremlin confirms US and Russia recognize urgent need for new nuclear arms treaty talks after New START expires, amid geopolitical tensions.

"both sides reached an understanding on the need to adopt responsible positions - Dmitry Peskov"

Moscow, Feb 6

Russia and the United States recognise the need to begin negotiations on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty as soon as possible, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Peskov said the issue was discussed during recent talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and that both sides reached an understanding on the need to adopt responsible positions.

He said the work in Abu Dhabi was constructive but at the same time "very difficult," adding that discussions would continue, Xinhua news agency reported.

Delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine took part in the second round of trilateral talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday. Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange but failed to achieve substantive breakthroughs on core issues such as territorial arrangements and a ceasefire.

As the world's two largest nuclear powers, the United States and Russia together possess about 87 per cent of the global nuclear arsenal. New START, which entered into force in 2011 and was extended in 2021 for five years, has long been regarded as a cornerstone of bilateral strategic stability. The treaty limited each side to a maximum of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and established corresponding restrictions on delivery systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, US President Donald Trump dismissed New START as a "badly negotiated deal" that was "being grossly violated," arguing that extending the treaty would not serve US interests.

Instead, he called for a "new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future," signaling Washington's readiness to move beyond the existing framework rather than preserving its constraints.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that it assumes the two sides are no longer bound by any obligations under the treaty following its expiration.

Trump's skepticism toward arms control agreements is nothing new. During his first term, Washington withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, also arguing that the pact no longer reflected strategic realities and failed to restrain adversaries effectively.

With New START gone, Washington and Moscow have lost their last remaining arms control guardrail, creating a strategic vacuum that extends well beyond their bilateral relationship. Nuclear arms control has now entered uncharted territory, shaped by a more fragile and volatile geopolitical landscape.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The world cannot afford a new nuclear arms race. With the last treaty gone, there are no rules. This affects everyone, not just the US and Russia. India has a responsible record, but we live in a dangerous neighborhood. Global pressure for a new treaty is essential.
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Priya S
Trump calling it a "badly negotiated deal" is worrying. He tore up the last one too. This instability at the top makes everything unpredictable. As an Indian, I feel our foreign policy has to be extra careful navigating between these powers now. Tough job for MEA.
R
Rohit P
Constructive talks are good, but actions matter more. They agreed on prisoner exchange in Ukraine, which is positive, but no ceasefire. How can you build trust for a nuclear treaty when there's a hot war going on? The two issues are linked.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I think the article misses a key point. The strategic landscape *has* changed since 2011. China's nuclear buildup isn't part of this treaty. Any new framework must be multilateral to be effective. India should push for inclusive talks, not just bilateral.
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Meera T
87% of the world's nukes! That's a terrifying statistic. Their rivalry puts the whole planet at risk. We in India know the cost of conflict. Hope our leaders use their diplomatic channels to encourage restraint and dialogue. Jai Hind.

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