Russia has issued a chilling nuclear warning, following the expiration of the US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START and signed in 2010, was designed to prevent a catastrophic nuclear war. It was also the last nuclear weapons control treaty between the US and Russia. The treaty expired on February 5, sparking fears of a renewed nuclear arms race.
The Russian Embassy in Kenya sparked alarm on social media after reposting a message on X from Russian Security Council Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev, who posted an image on X captioned “winter is coming” – an implicit threat in reference to a “nuclear winter” after large-scale nuclear war.
The embassy’s post said “winter is coming”, adding that Moscow “remains ready for equal and mutually beneficial dialogue”.
This, officials added in a five-word warning, “before the real freeze sets in!”
Medvedev, who has long played a key role in shaping Russian security policy, posted about the treaty lapse, writing that “for the first time since 1972, Russia (the former USSR) and the US have no treaty limiting strategic nuclear forces. SALT I, SALT II, START I, START II, SORT, New START – all in the past.”
The comments come as Moscow has repeatedly called for an extension of the treaty. Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma’s Defence Committee, insisted that Russia possesses all the retaliatory capabilities it requires and suggested that the situation will worsen if the US does not move to sign a new agreement. Meanwhile, Leonid Slutsky, chair of the Duma’s International Affairs Committee, placed the responsibility on Washington, stating that “the ball is in the [United States’] court.”
UN Secretary General António Guterres has said its end “marks a grave moment for international peace and security” and called on Russia and the US to negotiate a successor framework “without delay”.
US President Donald Trump has sounded less concerned. Last month, he told the New York Times: “If it expires, it expires… We’ll just do a better agreement”.
Washington believes that any future arms control treaty should also include China, which has been building up its nuclear arsenal.