Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into a law a bill extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) until February 5, 2026.

“The Federal Law ratifies the Agreement on Renewing the Treaty between Russia and the United States on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms dated April 8, 2010; the Agreement was concluded on January 26, 2021 between Russia and the United States in the form of an exchange of notes,” the Kremlin press service said in a statement published on its website.

“Renewing the Treaty meets the national interests of the Russian Federation, makes it possible to maintain the transparency and predictability of strategic relations between Russia and the United States and to support global strategic stability; it will have a beneficial effect on the international situation, and contribute to the nuclear disarmament process.” the statement concludes. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Asr00yyAV_cKtFeq3hq0ENgBjydLcLeM126-KQY6VMc/edit

On Jan. 26, Moscow and Washington exchanged notes on extending New START. Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Joseph Biden of the United States welcomed the move in a telephone call. On the same day, Putin submitted a bill on extending New START for five years to the State Duma, which passed it.

Commenting on Putin’s signing of the bill, a representative of the U.S. State Department told TASS on Jan. 29: “There are still steps that should be finalized. But we are optimistic that the extension [of the document], which obviously meets our national security interests, will be finalized before expiration [of the document] on Feb. 5.”