Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally decoupled from the New START treaty, but not from its core nuclear limits, at least for the next year. In a major policy announcement, he stated that Russia would voluntarily adhere to the pact’s caps on warheads and delivery systems despite its expiration.
The move is designed to inject stability into the strategic environment. Putin explained that in the current “turbulent period,” it is “justified to try to maintain the status quo” to prevent an arms race. This means Russia will not deploy more than 1,550 nuclear warheads or 700 strategic missiles and bombers.
However, this adherence is not unconditional. Putin made it explicit that Moscow expects the same from Washington. The viability of Russia’s self-restraint, he said, hinges on the United States also committing to the limits and not taking actions that would disrupt the nuclear balance.
Putin also presented this as a potential foundation for future diplomacy. He suggested that mutual compliance could contribute significantly to creating an atmosphere where a “substantive strategic dialogue” could be renewed, positioning this as a test of Washington’s willingness to engage.
This one-year commitment is a temporary, tactical decision. It gives Russia time to assess the U.S. response without being locked into a long-term policy. After a year, Moscow will re-evaluate the situation and decide whether to continue its voluntary restraint.