Trump rejects ‘Nuclear’ deal with Russia

The last remaining nuclear arms control agreement that has protected the world from decades of nuclear war risk, New START , officially expired on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s proposal to extend the treaty for another year, stating that a stronger, modernised agreement suited to current security requirements is needed.

The New START treaty, concluded between the U.S. and Russia in 2010 after the Cold War, limited each country to 1,550 nuclear warheads and 700 delivery systems , including missiles, aircraft, and submarines. However, with the treaty’s expiration, Trump argued that continuing it unchanged would compromise U.S. defence capabilities .

Trump described the treaty as a “bad deal” and accused Russia of violating its terms, citing Moscow’s suspension of nuclear inspections in 2023. He also insisted that discussions include China , which is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, although Beijing has resisted the proposal.

Currently, Russia and the U.S. each possess around 4,000 nuclear warheads, while China is estimated to have only 600. However, China is developing its arsenal quickly. Trump’s administration fears that adherence to the old treaty could give China an advantage in the nuclear arms race. He stated on Truth Social that a modernised agreement is needed to bring all major nuclear powers under one framework.

The treaty’s expiration has raised global concerns about a renewed nuclear arms race . Arms control experts warn that without limits, countries can deploy nuclear weapons as they choose, increasing mutual suspicion and the risk that even minor errors could trigger nuclear conflict.

Russia responded strongly to the treaty’s end. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that if the U.S. deploys nuclear weapons, Moscow would be forced to take “military-technical” measures. A White House spokesperson, Caroline Leavitt, said the U.S. remains open to talks with Russia, provided any agreement aligns with U.S. interests.

Ukraine expressed concern over the treaty’s expiration, viewing it as part of President Putin’s attempts to undermine international security. Kyiv accused Russia of using nuclear threats to weaken the international support Ukraine receives.

With the treaty expired, no formal nuclear arms control provisions remain in force. The U.S. is considering redeploying reserve warheads on missiles and preparing to face potential threats from both Russia and China. The United Nations has urged the two nuclear powers to resume peace negotiations.