The End of "New START": World Enters Uncharted Nuclear Waters as Last Major Treaty Expires; Moscow Vows "Prudence" Amid U.S. Silence

The New START treaty, the final pillar of nuclear arms control between the U.S. and Russia, officially expired today, Thursday, February 5, 2026. Moscow announced it is no longer bound by any "mutual pledges," effectively removing the cap of 1,550 deployed warheads. While President Putin assured China of Russia's "responsibility," the absence of a legal framework raises fears of an unrestrained global arms race for the first time since the Cold War.

Washington has remained largely silent, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio noting that President Trump will speak "later," while emphasizing that any future deal is impossible without including China's rapidly growing arsenal. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the expiration as a "dark moment for international security," urging both powers to return to the table. Meanwhile, France and Germany blamed Russia for the treaty's collapse, warning that the "logic of fear" might now replace strategic stability.