Lavrov Proposes Year-Long New START Compliance, Urges U.S. to Join

Russia is willing to extend its adherence to the numerical limits set by the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty for an additional year, contingent on a similar commitment from the United States, stated Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.

The New START Treaty, which is set to expire in February 2026, appeared to be on the brink of collapse after Russia halted its participation without officially withdrawing in 2023.

In September, President Vladimir Putin declared his readiness to comply with the treaty’s restrictions of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 800 delivery vehicles for one more year.

«We have consistently indicated that this offer represents our unilateral goodwill gesture. For the U.S. to endorse our initiative, no negotiations or discussions are necessary,» Lavrov conveyed during an interview with media.

“All that is required is for Washington to simply declare that it will not exceed the quantitative limits established by [New START] for an additional year,” he remarked, with statements also featured on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

Russia’s foreign minister implied that the U.S. could make such an announcement anytime before the expiration of the New START on February 5. However, he cautioned that Moscow would resume nuclear testing if another nuclear nation initiated such actions first.

Moreover, Lavrov rejected American assertions of «suspicious underground activities» occurring at Russian test sites but mentioned that Moscow remains open to discussions regarding the accusations.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused Russia and China of conducting nuclear weapons tests and indicated he had instructed the Pentagon to recommence nuclear testing “on an equal footing” with other nuclear-armed countries. These comments came in the wake of Putin’s statement about Russia conducting tests on its nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable weaponry.

Lavrov refuted Trump’s allegations and indicated that Washington could verify whether Russia conducted a nuclear warhead test through global seismic monitoring systems.

“Other tests, whether subcritical or those without a chain nuclear reaction, as well as carrier tests, have never been prohibited,” he added.

Lavrov urged the two largest nuclear powers in the world to «de-escalate, assess the current situation, and recognize the responsibility that major powers bear for global security and the prevention of nuclear conflict.»

His comments came amid media speculation about his standing with Putin after Trump canceled a planned summit with the Russian leader in Budapest last month.

The Kremlin spokesperson labeled the media claims as “false” on Friday.

In the interview on Tuesday, Lavrov confirmed that Russia is still open to arranging a proposed U.S.-Russia summit in Budapest.

AFP contributed to this report.