U.S. Weighs Russia’s One-Year New START Limits Offer as Moscow Urges Response
Washington reviews the conditional plan with only routine contacts, leaving a narrowing window before the treaty’s February 2026 expiration.
Overview
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is considering Moscow’s proposal separately from the Ukraine context and reported no active open dialogue at the ministerial level.
- Russia has publicly offered to observe New START quantitative caps for one year after the treaty lapses if the United States does the same.
- Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said Washington has not issued a formal reaction and warned that time is running short to avoid losing constraints.
- Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reiterated Russia’s readiness under reciprocity and said the United States has not provided official explanations about statements on nuclear tests.
- New START limits strategic delivery systems and deployed warheads, and its expiration on February 5, 2026 raises concerns about verification and strategic stability.