The military expert allowed the early conclusion of the START Treaty between Russia and the United States

The pause in the contractual regulation between the United States and Russia under the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START Treaty) may be short-lived. A new agreement is expected to be signed soon. This was stated to Izvestia on February 3 by former special forces officer, retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk.

"I think this is not the final breakup. The United States is playing for a long time, and within some time — perhaps a month or two — the next agreement may be concluded, because it is in the interests of both sides," the expert said.

He clarified that the current treaty set quantitative limits on deployed warheads, ensuring relative parity between the parties. The ammunition in reserve was taken into account for the future, but if the START Treaty is not signed, there will be no such prospect. Each country will independently decide on the number of deployed combat-ready warheads and how many to reserve in warehouses. According to Matviychuk, this process will lead to an escalation of nuclear danger.

In addition, he added that the absence of a treaty framework could have an impact on international security. The growing uncertainty surrounding nuclear capabilities can increase confrontational rhetoric and pressure in world politics.

"If we take the experience of previous nuclear eras, this will lead to an escalation of the policy of aggression. The nuclear weapons that the leading powers have will be used as a pressure factor in resolving international issues," the military expert concluded.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would be very bad for strategic security if Russia and the United States remained without an agreement. Kirill Dmitriev, the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic Cooperation, said on February 3 that there was growing concern in the United States that the time for agreeing to extend the START Treaty with Russia was coming to an end.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to adhere to the START Treaty restrictions for another year after February 5, 2026. In turn, the American leader Donald Trump called Russia's proposal on the START Treaty a good idea.

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