The last US-Russia nuclear pact expires, prompting fears of a new arms race [View all]

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Source: AP

Updated 5:41 AM EST, February 5, 2026


MOSCOW (AP) — The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States expires Thursday, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century.

The termination of the New START Treaty could set the stage for what many fear could be an unconstrained nuclear arms race.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last year declared readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington follows suit, but U.S. President Donald Trump has been noncommittal about extending it. He has indicated that he wants China to be a part of it — a push Beijing has rebuffed.

Putin discussed the pact’s expiration with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said, noting Washington hasn’t responded to his proposed extension. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Moscow views the expiration of the treaty “negatively” and regrets its.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-putin-trump-nuclear-weapons-treaty-0e82c7fb5e5feca89a9c3f45d6f4feae