The deputy spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, Vedant Patel, stated that Washington continues to share notifications with Russia under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The updates reflect ongoing compliance with START rules and process requirements, as reported to the press by the administration. Patel emphasized that the United States remains aligned with START-3 obligations and that all required notifications are being provided through the designated channels. He also noted a shift in practice: the U.S. will no longer disclose the total count of its deployed nuclear weapons to Moscow as part of the treaty information exchanges. This change marks a strategic adjustment in how the two governments handle nuclear weapons data within the START framework. The remarks underscore the administration’s aim to maintain transparency on treaty mechanisms while adapting to evolving security considerations in the bilateral relationship.
Earlier, a Pentagon spokesperson indicated that on March 27 the United States sought information exchanges with Russia under START but Russia declined to participate. In response, the ministry stated it would suspend transmitting START information to Moscow as long as Washington did not participate in a reciprocal information exchange. This interruption highlights ongoing friction in the information-sharing aspect of the treaty and raises questions about how both sides will proceed under START obligations in the near term.
Additionally, Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation, asserted that Russia and the United States no longer share a common footing on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The Russian position reflects deeper disagreements over treaty scope, verification protocols, and mutual confidence measures that have influenced bilateral security dialogues in recent years. Analysts note that while both sides have publicly affirmed certain commitments, practical cooperation under START has experienced interruptions that complicate the path toward renewed alignment. The evolving stance from Moscow points to a broader reassessment of strategic arms governance in the current geopolitical climate, with implications for regional stability and global nonproliferation efforts. In translating these developments into policy, observers expect future diplomacy to focus on clarifying verification processes, restoring predictable notification practices, and outlining a path for potential information exchanges that would satisfy both nations’ security interests. These dynamics continue to shape ongoing discussions about arms control, deterrence, and strategic balance in North America and beyond. Attribution: official statements and expert analyses on START-related discussions.