Russia-US nuclear arms control last treaty reaches expiry

Russia said on Thursday it regretted the expiry of its last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the United States but would act responsibly after the removal of constraints on deployment of the world’s deadliest weapons, Reuters writes.

The New START treaty, which set limits on each side’s missiles, launchers and strategic warheads, was the last in a series of nuclear agreements dating back more than half a century to the Cold War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed that Moscow and Washington agree to adhere to the treaty’s main provisions for another year. US President Donald Trump did formally respond but has said he wants a better deal, bringing in China.

Beijing has declined negotiations with Moscow and Washington as it has a fraction of their warhead numbers – an estimated 600, compared to around 4,000 each for Russia and the US.

“What happens next depends on how events unfold,” Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia “as always, will be guided first and foremost by its national interests.”

The New START treaty was signed in 2010 by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama. The treaty is set to expire today, Feb. 5.