Russia agrees to abide by expired New START nuclear arms limits — as long as US does the same

Following the expiration of the New START treaty on February 5th, Russia has agreed to adhere to its nuclear arms limits with the U.S., contingent on Washington doing the same. The New START treaty, signed in 2010, placed restrictions on the number of deployed nuclear weapons for both countries. The treaty's expiration has raised concerns about a potential unconstrained nuclear arms race. While Russia has signaled a willingness to abide by the treaty limits, the U.S., under President Trump, has expressed interest in a new agreement that includes China, a condition Beijing has rejected. Russia will monitor U.S. actions to determine its own future course of action regarding strategic arms limitations.

Following the expiration of the New START treaty earlier this month, Russia announced it will adhere to the treaty's nuclear weapons limits as long as the United States does the same. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this to parliament on Wednesday, walking back earlier comments that Russia no longer considered itself bound by the treaty. Lavrov expressed belief that the US would continue to respect the limits, though he did not explain why. The New START agreement, between Russia and the US, was the last remaining arms control treaty between the two countries, and its expiration raised concerns about a potential arms race. Russia has indicated interest in a new arms control agreement, while the US is pushing for China's inclusion in any future talks.