During an interview on Monday, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said it was “quite possible” that Moscow would terminate the New START nuclear arms control deal with the US after 2026.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA news agency, “This is definitely a conceivable situation.”
The US-Russia talks on resuming inspections under the New START deal, which expires in February 2026, were called off at the last minute in November 2022. Both parties have failed to agree on a timetable for future discussions.
Russia has claimed that nuclear weapons control may be terminated as a result of the United States’ efforts to inflict “strategic defeat” on Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
Both Russia and the United States maintain enormous arsenals of nuclear weapons, which have been restricted in part by the 2011 New START Treaty.
However, it is unclear what will happen after February 4, 2026, although the US has indicated a desire to establish a follow-up agreement with Russia.
Russia’s top arms control diplomat, Ryabkov, accused the US of neglecting Russia’s interests and destroying the arms control framework in recent years.
“New START may well fall victim to this. We are ready for such a scenario,” said Ryabkov while speaking to RIA.
“The entire situation in the sphere of security, including arms control, has been held hostage by the US line of inflicting strategic defeat on Russia. We will resist this in the strongest possible way using all the methods and means at our disposal,” Ryabkov further stated.
The deputy foreign minister’s words include a warning to Washington that the military assistance it is providing to Ukraine may result in the expiration of the post-Cold War bilateral arms control treaty.
