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US and Russia reopen military talks as nuclear limits expire
US and Russia quietly reopen military talks as nuclear treaty era ends
For the first time in more than three years, Washington and Moscow are back in direct military contact. It is a low-key move, but one with serious global weight.
The United States and Russia have agreed to restart high-level military dialogue while Ukraine peace talks continue in Abu Dhabi. The confirmation came from the US military command in Europe, marking a cautious thaw after years of frozen communication between the two nuclear superpowers.
What makes the timing especially striking is that these renewed talks come just days after the official expiry of the New START treaty, the last remaining agreement limiting the size of US and Russian nuclear arsenals.
Why these talks matter right now
According to the US European Command, known as the United States European Command, the decision followed recent meetings between the top US and NATO military commanders in Europe and a Russian delegation led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence.
EUCOM said keeping military-to-military dialogue open is vital for global stability. It helps prevent misunderstandings, improves transparency, and reduces the risk of escalation at a time when tensions remain dangerously high.
Direct contact between the two militaries was cut off in late 2021. That breakdown came shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an event that reshaped European security and pushed relations with the West to their lowest point since the Cold War.
The shadow of the New START treaty
Hovering over these talks is the quiet end of the New START treaty, which formally expired on 5 February. The agreement capped the number of deployed nuclear warheads and launch systems held by both sides and allowed for inspections and verification.
With no replacement treaty in place, many analysts have warned of a growing risk of an unregulated nuclear arms race.
Moscow has signalled it is still open to discussion. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains ready for constructive dialogue on nuclear arms control. Russian officials have also said that President Vladimir Putin had previously proposed extending parts of the treaty, but that offer was left unanswered by Washington.
A quiet compromise behind closed doors
Despite the public uncertainty, reports from the Abu Dhabi talks suggest progress may already be happening behind the scenes. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the US and Russian delegations are close to agreeing on an informal six-month continuation of New START-style limits on nuclear weapons.
If approved by both presidents, the temporary arrangement would preserve key restrictions while buying time for broader negotiations.
It is not a full treaty, but it would signal that neither side is ready to abandon arms control entirely.
A fragile step toward stability
The reopening of military dialogue does not mean relations between the United States and Russia are suddenly improving. The war in Ukraine continues, trust remains thin, and political rhetoric on both sides is still sharp.
But in a world where miscalculation can have catastrophic consequences, even limited communication matters.
For now, the renewed contact suggests a shared recognition in both Washington and Moscow that silence between rival militaries is far more dangerous than talking, especially when nuclear weapons are part of the equation.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: RT
