Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow has not initiated any discussions regarding the extension of the New START treaty, the key nuclear arms reduction agreement between the United States and Russia that is set to expire in February 2026.
Lavrov clarified that although Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023, President Vladimir Putin had decided, “as a gesture of goodwill,” to continue adhering to quantitative restrictions on strategic nuclear weapons until the agreement’s expiration.
“Despite our paused participation, we have voluntarily maintained compliance with the treaty’s limits and expect Washington to do the same,” Lavrov said.
He added that while there have been some signs of improvement in U.S.–Russia relations, Moscow would require a “fundamentally different atmosphere” before considering negotiations for a new arms control framework.
Earlier this year, Putin had proposed a one-year extension of the New START treaty, a suggestion that U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly viewed positively. However, no formal agreement has been reached so far, leaving the future of global nuclear arms control uncertain.
