The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that nuclear weapons represent the singular defense preventing a worldwide military collapse, as concerns grow regarding a potential international arms race. This sentiment follows the expiration of the New START treaty between Russia and the United States this past February, which removed limitations on the world’s primary nuclear powers.
While Russia and the U.S. have agreed to resume high-level military discussions, there are no immediate indications of a new agreement. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, noted at a Moscow foreign policy event that the international security framework is deteriorating. He argued that nuclear deterrence remains the only force shielding the world from total war, warning that emerging non-nuclear technologies may soon reach similar levels of destructive capability.
Throughout the conflict in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has frequently referenced Russia’s nuclear capacity, drawing criticism from Western nations. Meanwhile, the United States has advocated for a new treaty that incorporates China, though Beijing has dismissed such requests. Moscow maintains that any expansion of arms control must also include other nuclear-armed nations like Britain and France.
The loss of New START marks the first period in decades without an active treaty regulating nuclear deployment. Originally signed in 2010, the agreement capped both Russian and American arsenals at 1,550 warheads each, following a long tradition of Cold War-era diplomacy.
