A joint statement issued after the Franco-British nuclear summit in Paris underscored a clear appeal to Russia to rejoin the verification and limitation framework, specifically urging Moscow to participate again in START. The leaders of France and Britain stressed the importance of keeping nuclear arms control on track and maintaining strategic stability, framing Russia’s current stance as a step away from a stable, predictable security environment. In their communique, Paris and London called on Moscow to fully comply with the treaty provisions without delay and to resume constructive engagement with the other signatories involved in strategic arms reduction discussions.
In parallel remarks, the French and British representatives cautioned that Russia’s announced plans to pursue nuclear testing could infringe upon the established moratorium and the spirit of restraint that has guided Cold War–era agreements into a newer era of treaty-based limits. The statements highlighted that any reactivation of testing activities would be seen as a signal of renewed arms development, potentially destabilizing the current balance and complicating dialogue with NATO partners who rely on transparency and predictable arsenals to reduce global risk.
Russian reactions to the meeting were noted by observers as cautious but noncommittal regarding any immediate path back into the verification regime. Sergey Ryabkov, the former deputy foreign minister, commented that Moscow would be watching the leaders’ summit and the surrounding discussions with a critical eye, signaling that Russia does not anticipate a straightforward return to the previous terms without clarifications on how Paris and London view NATO allies’ nuclear postures and the broader strategic context. Ryabkov pointed out that Russia seeks a clearer understanding of what France and Britain, as NATO members, intend to claim about their own nuclear arsenals and how those plans would be integrated into a renewed START framework before any forward momentum could occur.
On February 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a law suspending Russia’s participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The official rationale emphasized Russia’s need for a more precise assessment of how other major nuclear powers, including France and Britain, interpret their roles within NATO and how those interpretations would shape the limits and verifications under any future arms control agreement. Putin suggested that Moscow wants to see how allied partners articulate their strategic arsenals, how transparency measures would be applied, and what reciprocal steps other states are prepared to take before Moscow is willing to re-enter ongoing discussions on START or its successor frameworks. This stance reflects a broader pattern in which Russia seeks to synchronize arms control commitments with a broader security strategy that accounts for perceptions of threat, alliance cohesion, and the evolving capabilities of other nuclear powers. As observers note, any return to negotiations will likely require a clear framework that aligns Moscow’s security concerns with the broader goals of stability and predictability in European and transatlantic security architecture, especially given the evolving landscape of regional and global strategic competition.