The agreement between Russia and the United States to extend the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) came into force on Wednesday, February 3, following the exchange of the respective notes, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"On February 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry exchanged notes with the US Embassy on the completion of internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement on the extension of the START. Accordingly, this agreement entered into force on the same day. Thus, the agreement will be valid as signed, without any changes or additions, until February 5, 2026," the document reads.
According to Smolensk Square, the extension of the START has ensured the preservation and further functioning of the core mechanism for maintaining strategic stability, which limits the nuclear missile arsenals of the parties on a strict parity basis. "Taking into account the special responsibility of Russia and the United States as major nuclear powers, an important decision has been made that guarantees the necessary level of predictability and transparency in this area while strictly respecting the balance of interests," the statement said.
Moscow also expects that the understanding reached with Washington on the fate of the START will make it possible to overcome "the tendency to break arms control and nonproliferation mechanisms that has prevailed in recent years due to the destructive US policy." "Considerable efforts will be required to put the Russian-American dialogue in this area back on a stable trajectory and achieve new major results that strengthen our national security and strategic stability in the world," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed. - "Russia is ready for such work. We call on the USA to show a similarly responsible approach and to respond constructively to our respective initiatives".
On January 26, Moscow and Washington exchanged diplomatic notes on reaching an agreement to extend the START. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden expressed satisfaction with this fact in a telephone conversation on the same day. That evening, Putin submitted a bill to the State Duma to ratify the agreement to extend the START Treaty for five years - until February 5, 2026.
The Russian leader signed the law extending the treaty on January 29. According to the Kremlin press service, extending the Treaty meets Russia's national interests, helps maintain a transparent and predictable strategic relationship between Russia and the US, and maintains strategic stability in the world.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS