Russia Extends START for One Year, Issues Nuclear Warning to U.S.
Russia extends the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by one year, with experts calling it a nuclear ultimatum to the U.S. Future arms control now depends on Washington’s response.
Military analyst Igor Korotchenko argued that Russia’s decision to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) for one additional year should be read not only as a goodwill gesture, but also as a firm warning to Washington.
Korotchenko recalled that former U. S. President Donald Trump had previously voiced a willingness to discuss a new agreement with Moscow. At the same time, he noted that Russian officials recognize full-scale negotiations could take years to conclude. The one-year extension, he explained, is viewed in Moscow as a realistic timeframe for a new U.S. administration to clarify its stance.
He stressed that if Washington fails to take constructive steps within that window, Russia would no longer consider itself bound by any limitations on its strategic arsenal. In his words, the future of nuclear parity now rests entirely in America’s hands.
This debate follows remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who announced on September 22 that Moscow is prepared to continue observing START after its expiration on February 5, 2026-provided the United States acts in kind. The Russian leader made the statement during a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council.