The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated that the New START treaty - the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Weapons with the USA - may cease to operate after 2026.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Ryabkov said this in an interview with RIA "Novosti", reports Reuters.
"This is quite a possible scenario," Ryabkov said.
Russian-American negotiations on the renewal of inspections under the new SNO treaty, which expires in February 2026, were canceled at the last moment in November 2022. Neither side has agreed on a temporary framework for new negotiations.
It should be noted that the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Weapons, which was extended for five years in 2021, remains the only valid arms control treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States.
Signed in 2010 for 10 years, SNO-3 limits the strategic carriers and nuclear warheads of the Russian Federation and the United States to 700 and 1,550, respectively. The contract can be extended for a period of 5 years in case of goodwill of each of the signatories.
Donald Trump's administration has been reluctant to extend the treaty, but his successor, Joe Biden, has agreed to extend New START.
