Archive · 30 Jan 2026
US and Russia Face Nuclear Treaty Expiration
Russia and the United States have a treaty called New START that controls their nuclear weapons.
This treaty is about to expire on February 5.
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested extending the treaty for one more year, but the U.S. President Donald Trump hasn't officially responded yet.
If the treaty expires, there won't be any rules controlling nuclear weapons between the two countries, which could lead to a new arms race.
Some people think the U.S. should extend the treaty to avoid a costly and dangerous arms race.
Others think the U.S. should not trust Russia and should increase its own nuclear weapons to counter threats from both Russia and China.
China, which is not part of the treaty, is also building up its nuclear arsenal.
Russia is awaiting a U.S. response to President Putin's proposal to extend the New START treaty for one year.
The New START treaty is set to expire on February 5, potentially leading to an unrestrained nuclear arms race.
U.S. President Donald Trump has not formally responded to Putin's proposal, stating that the treaty should be replaced with a better one.
Some U.S. politicians argue that Trump should reject Putin's offer to counter nuclear build-ups by Russia and China.
China's nuclear arsenal is growing, with an estimated 600 warheads in 2023 and projected to reach 1,000 by 2030.
- Who
- Russia, United States, China
- What
- Potential expiration of the New START nuclear treaty
- When
- February 5
- Where
- Moscow, Russia, Washington, USA
- Why
- The U.S. has not yet responded to Russia's proposal to extend the treaty
- Treaty
- New START
- Expiration Date
- February 5
- Proposal
- Informal one-year extension
- Proposed By
- Vladimir Putin
- Kremlin Spokesman
- Dmitry Peskov
- US President
- Donald Trump
- China's Estimated Warheads
- 600 (2023)
- China's Projected Warheads
- 1,000 (2030)
Sources
Kremlin says it is still waiting for U.S. response to Putin’s nuclear treaty offer
Russia waits for US nod to extend the last remaining nuclear weapon treaty: What is Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty?
Analysis-Barring last-minute nuclear deal, US and Russia teeter on brink of new arms race
