MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The agreement between Russia and the United States to extend the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) has entered into force on Wednesday, February 3, after the countries exchanged the relevant notes, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"On February 3, the notes were exchanged with the US embassy in the Russian Foreign Ministry about completion of internal procedures necessary for the New START extension to come into force. Correspondingly, this agreement has entered into force the same day. Therefore, the treaty will be effective in the form in which it was signed, without any changes or supplements until February 5, 2026," the statement reads.

The Russian ministry pointed out that the New START extension ensured preservation and further functioning of the very core of the strategic stability maintenance mechanism which limits nuclear arsenals of the countries on the basis of parity. "Considering the special responsibility of Russia and the US as the major nuclear powers, a crucial decision was made which guarantees the necessary level of predictability and transparency in this sphere with strict balance of interests," the statement notes.

Moscow is also hoping that the understanding reached with Washington regarding the future of New START will make it possible to overcome the trend of disrupting mechanisms of arms control and non-proliferation "that dominated the past few years following the destructive policy of the US." "Significant efforts will be required to return the Russian-American dialogue in this sphere to a steady trajectory and reach new major results that strengthen our national security and strategic stability in the world," the ministry emphasized. "Russia is ready for this work. We are calling on the US to show the same responsible approach and react constructively to our relevant initiatives."

On January 26, Moscow and Washington exchanged diplomatic notes of reaching the agreement to extend New START. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden had a phone call the same day to express satisfaction over this move. On January 29, the Russian leader signed the law to officially extend the treaty. The Kremlin press service then commented that the extension corresponds with Russia’s national interests and allows maintaining transparency and predictability of Russia-US strategic relations and strategic stability in the broader world.