Putin Revives Spirit of START with Unilateral One-Year Pledge

President Vladimir Putin has sought to revive the spirit, if not the letter, of the New START treaty with a unilateral pledge to honor its nuclear limits for one more year. The announcement is a significant gesture aimed at maintaining stability after the landmark pact’s official expiration.
In a televised address, Putin explained the move as a bid to ensure “predictability and restraint” in a “rather turbulent period.” By committing to the treaty’s core constraints—a cap of 1,550 deployed warheads and 700 delivery systems—Russia is signaling a preference for a structured, rather than chaotic, nuclear environment.
However, this revival of the treaty’s spirit requires two participants. Putin made it clear that Moscow expects Washington to act in kind. He stated that the measure is only “viable” if the U.S. reciprocates and does not take actions that would undermine the nuclear balance.
The Russian leader is also hoping this gesture can resurrect diplomacy. He suggested that if both sides adhere to the limits, it could foster a climate “conducive to substantive strategic dialogue,” which has been absent amid severe bilateral tensions.
This one-year pledge is a temporary measure, offering a glimpse of a more stable future but no guarantees. Its success will depend on whether the United States is willing to embrace the spirit of the old treaty in this new, more uncertain era.