Last US-Russia Nuclear Weapons Pact Expires

Kremlin regrets end of New START treaty as no limits remain on two largest atomic arsenals

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Kremlin said it regrets the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, the New START treaty, as it leaves no caps on the two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in over 50 years. U.S. President Donald Trump declared he was against keeping the treaty's limits and wants a better deal that includes China, which has rebuffed the idea.

Why it matters

The end of the New START treaty raises fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race between the U.S. and Russia, as the last agreement limiting their nuclear stockpiles has now expired. This could lead to a dangerous escalation in nuclear weapons development and heighten global security risks.

The details

The New START treaty, signed in 2010, restricted each side to no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads on no more than 700 missiles and bombers. It was originally supposed to expire in 2021 but was extended for five more years. In February 2023, Putin suspended Moscow's participation, saying Russia couldn't allow U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites. The treaty's expiration leaves no limits on the U.S. and Russia's nuclear arsenals.

  • The New START treaty expired on February 6, 2026.
  • In February 2023, Putin suspended Russia's participation in the treaty.

The players

Vladimir Putin

The President of Russia who suspended Russia's participation in the New START treaty in 2023.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who declared he was against keeping the New START treaty's limits and wanted a better deal that includes China.

Dmitry Peskov

The Kremlin spokesman who said Russia views the treaty's expiration "negatively" and regrets it.

Daryl Kimball

The executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington who warned of the threat of a new nuclear arms race.

Lin Jian

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson who said China's nuclear forces are not on the same scale as the U.S. and Russia, and thus China will not participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations at the current stage.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Rather than extend 'NEW START' (A badly negotiated deal by the United States that, aside from everything else, is being grossly violated), we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future.”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“If the Trump administration continues to stiff-arm nuclear arms control diplomacy with Russia and decides to increase the number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. deployed strategic arsenal, it will only lead Russia to follow suit and encourage China to accelerate its ongoing strategic buildup in an attempt to maintain a strategic nuclear retaliatory strike capability vis-a-vis the United States. Such a scenario could lead to a years-long, dangerous three-way nuclear arms buildup.”

— Daryl Kimball, Executive Director, Arms Control Association (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The U.S. and Russia may now work to negotiate a new, improved nuclear arms control treaty that could include China, though Beijing has so far rebuffed the idea of participating in such negotiations.

The takeaway

The expiration of the New START treaty marks the end of an era of nuclear arms control between the U.S. and Russia, raising the specter of a new nuclear arms race that could draw in China and heighten global security risks. Diplomatic efforts to establish a new, comprehensive nuclear agreement will be crucial to preventing an unconstrained buildup of the world's largest nuclear arsenals.