Russia will continue to adhere to the strategic missile and warhead ceilings set under the now-expired New START agreement, provided the United States does not exceed those thresholds, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told lawmakers on Wednesday.
The landmark 2010 arms control deal formally expired on 5 February, leaving Washington and Moscow without legally binding restrictions on their strategic nuclear forces for the first time in decades. Despite that, Moscow says it will voluntarily remain within the previous limits - on the condition that the U.S. does the same.
Lavrov told members of Russia’s lower house of parliament that the Kremlin’s previously announced pause on expanding beyond treaty caps remains in place but only so long as the United States refrains from surpassing them.
President Donald Trump has declined a proposal to continue observing the treaty for another year. Instead, he has argued for negotiating a broader and updated framework that reflects what he describes as a new security reality.
Lavrov said Russia sees no immediate indication that Washington intends to move beyond the former limits. He also renewed calls for structured talks on strategic stability, describing such dialogue as overdue.
The expiration of New START has intensified debate over the risk of a broader nuclear competition, potentially involving China, which maintains a smaller arsenal but is expanding its capabilities rapidly.
Security analysts say Russia’s position allows it to avoid immediate escalation while keeping room to modernise systems not previously covered by the treaty. At the same time, Moscow faces financial pressure linked to its prolonged war in Ukraine, a factor that could weigh on any major expansion of its nuclear programme.
Even if fighting in Ukraine were to ease, experts note that Russia would still need to rebuild its conventional forces, which would limit how aggressively it could pursue a large-scale nuclear build-up.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan....
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis oversaw the signing of seven cooperation agreements in Ankara on ...
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on...
Russia will continue to adhere to the strategic missile and warhead ceilings set under the now-expired New START agreement, provided the United States...
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for ...
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis oversaw the signing of seven cooperation agreements in Ankara on 11 February 2026, marking a further step in efforts to stabilise and deepen ties between the two NATO allies.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on 11 February 2026, after she refused to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein survivors seated in the room.
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for medals across northern Italy. Photographers continue capturing the defining moments of the Games, freezing triumph and celebration in images.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
U.S. military forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said on Monday.
“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on 11 February 2026, after she refused to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein survivors seated in the room.
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for medals across northern Italy. Photographers continue capturing the defining moments of the Games, freezing triumph and celebration in images.
China has unveiled a redesigned version of its state-backed digital currency, marking the latest step in the country’s long-running effort to modernise how money moves through its economy.
The Council of Europe has waived the diplomatic immunity of its former Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, clearing the way for Norwegian prosecutors to pursue an investigation into allegations of aggravated corruption linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
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