The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 18, 2025
Today: March 18, 2025

Russia warns outlook for extending last nuclear arms pact with US does not look promising

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Denis Pushilin, Moscow-installed leader of the Russian-controlled part of Donetsk region, in Moscow
February 10, 2025

By Dmitry Antonov and Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia warned on Monday that the outlook for extending the last remaining pillar of nuclear arms control between Moscow and Washington, the world's two biggest nuclear powers, did not look promising and that the situation appeared to be deadlocked.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, which caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy, and the deployment of land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them, is due to run out in less than a year - on February 5, 2026.

Russia warns outlook for extending last nuclear arms pact with US does not look promising
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the White House

U.S. President Donald Trump, during his first presidential term, withdrew the U.S. from another important treaty - the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty - and the New START agreement is now the only pact remaining.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who oversees U.S. relations and arms control, told a news briefing in Moscow on Monday that the prospects for talks on amending and extending the agreement looked bleak for now.

"As for our dialogue in the field of (nuclear) strategic stability and the post-New START situation, the situation does not look very promising," said Ryabkov.

"On February 5, 2026, the pact expires and after this it will not exist."

Russia warns outlook for extending last nuclear arms pact with US does not look promising
General rehearsal of the Victory Parade on the Moscow Red Square

Trump in January said he wanted to work towards cutting nuclear arms, adding that he thought Russia and China might support reducing their own weapons capabilities.

"We'd like to see denuclearization ... and I will tell you President Putin really liked the idea of cutting way back on nuclear. And I think the rest of the world, we would have gotten them to follow, and China would have come along too," Trump said.

The Kremlin, commenting on Trump's remarks, said at the time that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made clear he wanted to restart nuclear arms cuts talks as soon as possible.

But Ryabkov said that while the U.S. wanted three-way arms talks - including China - Moscow wanted five-way arms talks.

Russia has said it wants Britain and France - also nuclear powers - to be included in any talks.

"The U.S. is proposing a three-way talks format and we want a five-way format. We are going round in circles," said Ryabkov.

Ryabkov also linked progress on agreeing a new nuclear treaty to Washington's wider policy towards Russia at a time when Trump says he is exploring how to end the war in Ukraine as the Russian economy tries to weather the toughest Western sanctions ever.

"As for (renewing) New START, as Putin has said, nothing prevents us from holding talks and we are ready for that. But this depends on whether we'll see a real shift in Washington's policy towards Russia," said Ryabkov.

"But this hasn't happened yet and it's therefore premature to talk about this. The clock is running down."

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow. Writing by Andrew Osborn in London; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

Related

Americas|Business|Economy

Mexico's Pemex is in talks with Slim about Ixachi investment, president confirms

Australia|Business|Economy|World

New Zealand consumer confidence weakens, survey says

Americas|Economy|Political

Colombian lawmakers reject Petro-backed labor reform

Business|Economy|Finance|Stock Markets|US

Trading Day: Flickering recovery snuffed out

Local

Local|News

Survey reveals Gen Z experiences burnout earlier

Local|Crime|News

LAPD reports drop in homicides, other crimes for 2024

Lifestyle|Local

Holi celebrations in Los Angeles this weekend

Local|Lifestyle|News|WrittenByLAPost

Los Angeles Marathon to take place Sunday

Share This

Popular

Americas|Business|Economy

Mexico's Pemex is in talks with Slim about Ixachi investment, president confirms

Mexico's Pemex is in talks with Slim about Ixachi investment, president confirms
Australia|Business|Economy|World

New Zealand consumer confidence weakens, survey says

New Zealand consumer confidence weakens, survey says
Americas|Economy|Political

Colombian lawmakers reject Petro-backed labor reform

Colombian lawmakers reject Petro-backed labor reform
Business|Economy|Finance|Stock Markets|US

Trading Day: Flickering recovery snuffed out

Trading Day: Flickering recovery snuffed out

Political

Europe|Health|Political|World

Pope pens letter to the editor while in hospital as Buckingham Palace announces King Charles' visit

Pope pens letter to the editor while in hospital as Buckingham Palace announces King Charles' visit
Business|Political|US

Federal judge says Elon Musk exceeded his authority and that dismantling USAID was โ€˜likelyโ€™ unconstitutional

Federal judge says Elon Musk exceeded his authority and that dismantling USAID was โ€˜likelyโ€™ unconstitutional
Americas|Economy|Political

Colombian lawmakers reject Petro-backed labor reform

Colombian lawmakers reject Petro-backed labor reform
Europe|Political|World

Ukraine would back ceasefire on energy attacks, Zelenskiy says

Ukraine would back ceasefire on energy attacks, Zelenskiy says

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In