World enters grim new nuclear era after historic US-Russia atomic weapons treaty expires

  There are no longer limits on the number of nuclear warheads held by the two great powers - which already boast over 8,000 between them

A historic atomic weapons treaty between the US and Russia HAS EXPIRED has expired - sparking what could be the dawn of a new nuclear era. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New Start, was signed in 2010 - and limited the number of nuclear warheads between the two countries. 

In the early 1960s, U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev each expressed deep concern about the strength of their respective nations’ nuclear arms forces. This concern led them to complete the first arms control agreement of the Cold War, the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963. This has now expired.

President signing the Limited Test Ban Treaty. (John F. Kennedy Library)

Vladimir Putin had proposed to keep observing the missile and warhead limits for another 12 months - a request Moscow claims the US has ignored.Russia said it was open to renewed talks on Wednesday.

But the Kremlin's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who oversees arms control issues, said now was "a new moment, a new reality" and warned: "We are ready for it." In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said: “Essentially, our ideas are being deliberately ignored. This (US) approach appears mistaken and regrettable.”

It added Moscow intends to “responsibly and in a balanced manner”. On Wednesday, the US-born Pope Leo issued an urgent appeal to maintain the treaty.

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