Overview

• Putin said Russia would keep observing New START’s core caps for one year beyond the 5 February 2026 expiration as a voluntary restraint.
• The offer hinges on the United States avoiding actions that would undermine the current balance of deterrent capabilities.
• New START limits each side to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and 700 deployed delivery systems, with data exchanges and inspections stipulated by the treaty.
• On-site inspections were halted in March 2020 and planned 2022 talks in Egypt to restart verification were postponed by Moscow; Russia suspended participation in 2023 while pledging to respect limits until expiration.
• President Trump has expressed interest in a future deal that includes China but had not commented on Putin’s proposal at the time of publication.