Last Russia-US Nuclear Treaty Nears Expiry, Future Uncertain Amid Ukraine War

• The New START treaty, the last nuclear arms control agreement between Russia and the US, expires on February 5, with no successor talks held amid the Ukraine war.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a 12-month extension to maintain current warhead limits, but US President Donald Trump has not formally responded.
• Accepting Putin's offer could buy time but might allow Russia to develop new weapons outside the treaty's scope and signal to China that the US won't build up its arsenal.
• China, with a rapidly growing nuclear arsenal, rejects three-way disarmament talks with the US and Russia, citing their much larger stockpiles.
• Experts suggest focusing on risk reduction and confidence-building measures, like improving communication hotlines, as a new multilateral treaty would be complex and time-consuming.

Why It Matters: The expiration of New START creates nuclear uncertainty, urging focus on risk reduction amid complex geopolitical challenges.