Overview
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Minsk that Russia expects an official, positive U.S. announcement on the proposal to keep New START quantitative limits for one year after the treaty expires.
- Lavrov noted that President Donald Trump has spoken favorably about President Vladimir Putin’s initiative several times, expressing hope those remarks translate into a formal decision.
- Moscow’s offer is conditional on Washington taking the same steps, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stressing that the United States must also refrain from moves that could upset the deterrent balance.
- Lavrov said any negotiation on a successor accord requires a fundamentally different climate in bilateral relations, describing the main progress to date as the resumption of dialogue.
- The New START treaty is set to lapse on February 5, 2026, which leaves a short window for the sides to confirm interim measures or outline next steps.