Military expert Yuri Knutov has warned that the non-renewal of the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between Russia and the United States would trigger a dangerous nuclear arms race with potentially fatal consequences.
Speaking on February 3, Knutov explained that the treaty maintains specific quantitative limits for both nuclear delivery vehicles and warheads. “This effectively prevents an arms race in this area,” he said. “However, if we cancel the treaty now, then the same modernization program the United States is pursuing could lead to a significant increase in strike weapons and nuclear warheads.”
According to the agreement, older nuclear delivery systems must be decommissioned and destroyed. But Knutov noted that without renewing the treaty, such systems could instead be repaired, upgraded, and maintained in combat-ready condition.
“This is essentially a nuclear arms race,” he stated emphatically. “It carries the threat of nuclear conflict with all its devastating consequences—ultimately, the death of humanity.”
Knutov further observed that Washington is uniting the nuclear capabilities of Russia and China despite a lack of formal agreements on military cooperation between the two nations. Meanwhile, France and Great Britain are excluded from NATO’s collective nuclear potential.
“This situation is extremely dangerous and no one needs it,” he added. “That is why Russia is urging the extension of the treaty and parallel negotiations.”
Retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk, a former special forces officer, said the temporary pause in U.S.-Russia contractual negotiations on the START Treaty may be short-lived, with a new agreement expected soon.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that strategic security would suffer if Russia and the United States remained without an extension of the treaty. Kirill Dmitriev, the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic Cooperation, noted growing U.S. concerns that the window to extend the START Treaty with Russia is closing.
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s willingness to adhere to the START Treaty restrictions for another year after February 5, 2026. American leader Donald Trump had previously labeled Russia’s proposal as a “good idea.”
