politics
January 30, 2026
Key US-Russia nuclear pact difficult to replace
Russia and the US would have a hard time replacing the New START Treaty, which caps the number of nuclear weapons, the Kremlin has said
TL;DR
- The New START Treaty between the US and Russia is set to expire soon.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that replacing the treaty would be difficult and time-consuming.
- US President Donald Trump suggested letting the treaty lapse and seeking a new, "better" deal.
- The New START Treaty limits deployed strategic nuclear warheads and launchers and includes transparency measures.
- Russia fears the treaty's expiration would create a "serious deficit" in nuclear arms control and undermine global stability.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin previously proposed a one-year extension if both sides agreed to observe the central limits.
- Trump insists that any new nuclear deal should include China.
- China has rejected this proposal, stating it is unreasonable and unrealistic, and that countries with the largest arsenals should take primary responsibility for disarmament.