Russia Denies US Contact on New START Treaty Expiry, Cites Stalled Progress

• Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated no specialized consultations with the US have occurred regarding the New START nuclear arms control treaty's expiry on February 5.
• Lavrov confirmed Moscow's readiness to extend limits despite stalled progress and American prerequisites, emphasizing that dedicated dialogue channels remain inactive.
• New START is the only remaining pact limiting deployed nuclear warheads for Russia and the United States, with verification processes paused since 2022.
• President Vladimir Putin previously proposed a 12-month extension of New START caps, maintaining ceilings on various strategic arms, awaiting US acknowledgment.
• The US, under President Donald Trump, has demanded China's participation in new arrangements, a suggestion Beijing has consistently rejected due to its comparatively smaller nuclear arsenal.

Why It Matters: Russia denies US contact on New START expiry, raising concerns about unchecked nuclear arms growth.