Russia has pledged to adhere to nuclear weapon limits outlined in the expired New START treaty, provided that the United States also complies.
On Wednesday, Russia announced its willingness to adhere to nuclear weapon limitations set by the New START treaty, which has expired, on the condition that the United States follows suit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the concept of a 'voluntary moratorium' that Russia has placed on increasing its nuclear stockpile, asserting that this moratorium remains effective only as long as the U.S. does not surpass the predetermined limits outlined in the treaty.
During his address to the Russian State Duma, Lavrov pointed out that there has been no official response from the U.S. regarding President Vladimir Putin's initiative to continue adhering to the quantitative limitations established by the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty. This lack of communication from the U.S. leads Russia to believe that its own moratorium – announced by President Putin – will continue to hold, provided the U.S. does not exceed the previously stated limits.
The New START treaty, which aimed to cap the number of deployed missiles and warheads for both sides, officially expired on February 5. In the absence of a renewed agreement or negotiations, there are increasing concerns about a potential arms race that could escalate tensions between the two nations, as both possess considerable nuclear arsenals. The fate of future nuclear arms control hinges on the willingness of both countries to engage in constructive dialogue.
