Headlines
Russia says it won't breach limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does the same
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 11, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia will follow New START nuclear limits if the US reciprocates, despite the treaty's expiry, to avoid a costly arms race.
Russia says it won't breach limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does the same
Russia's Position on Nuclear Treaty Limits
MOSCOW, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Russia will keep observing the missile and warhead limits in the New START nuclear treaty with the United States, which expired last week, as long as Washington continues to do the same, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
The 2010 treaty ran out on February 5, leaving the world's two biggest nuclear-armed powers with no binding constraints on their strategic nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than half a century.
U.S. President Donald Trump declined a formal proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to voluntarily abide by the New START limits for another year. Lavrov said Moscow would stick to the limits itself for now anyway.
Implications of Treaty Expiry
"Our position is that this moratorium on our side that was declared by the president is still in place, but only as long as the United States doesn't exceed the said limits," Lavrov told parliament's lower house, the State Duma.
Concerns Over Arms Race
The treaty's expiry has spurred fears of a three-way arms race involving Russia, the U.S. and China, which has far fewer warheads than the other two countries but is arming rapidly.
Economic Factors Influencing Russia's Decision
Some analysts say, however, that Russia is keen to avoid the cost of such a contest at a time when its state budget is feeling the strain from its four-year-old war in Ukraine.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Mark Trevelyan/Anastasia Teterevleva; editing by Andrew Osborn)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia will adhere to New START limits if the US does.
- •The treaty expired on February 5, 2021.
- •Concerns rise over a potential arms race with China.
- •Economic strain influences Russia's decision.
- •US declined Russia's proposal to extend the treaty.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia says it won't breach limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does the same
1What are strategic nuclear arsenals?
Strategic nuclear arsenals refer to a country's stockpile of nuclear weapons designed for long-range delivery systems, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
2What is economic strain?
Economic strain refers to the pressure on a country's economy, often due to factors like war, recession, or high levels of debt. It can lead to budget cuts and reduced public spending.
