Headlines
Russia says it has no specific contacts with US on expiring nuclear treaty
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 20, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Tags:President
Quick Summary
Russia and the US lack direct communication on the New START treaty expiry. Putin proposes a one-year extension, while Trump seeks China's involvement.
Russia Lacks Direct Communication with US on Nuclear Treaty Expiry
Current Status of the New START Treaty
MOSCOW, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Russia and the United States currently have no specific contacts regarding the imminent expiry of the New START nuclear arms control treaty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Russia's Proposal for Treaty Extension
The treaty, the last of its kind between Moscow and Washington, sets limits on the number of deployed nuclear warheads the world's two biggest nuclear powers can have and is due to expire on February 5.
US Involvement and China's Position
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to voluntarily uphold the treaty's terms for a year after it expires if the United States does the same. But Moscow says it has not yet received a formal response to Putin's offer.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would like China to be part of any replacement agreement, something Beijing has always rejected.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia understood China's position since the size of Beijing's nuclear arsenal was smaller than Russia's.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia and the US have no direct talks on the New START treaty.
- •The treaty limits nuclear warheads and expires on February 5.
- •Putin proposes a one-year extension if the US agrees.
- •Trump wants China included in any new agreement.
- •China rejects involvement due to its smaller arsenal.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia says it has no specific contacts with US on expiring nuclear treaty
1What is arms control?
Arms control involves international agreements that aim to regulate and limit the development, stockpiling, proliferation, and usage of weapons, particularly nuclear arms, to enhance global security.
