All articles tagged with #us russia
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who is also a candidate for UN Secretary-General, urged the United States and Russia not to conduct nuclear tests during an informal UN dialogue, stressing ongoing concerns about nuclear nonproliferation and global security.
President Trump said he does not plan to block a Russian oil tanker delivering about 730,000 barrels of crude to Cuba, a surprising shift as Cuba faces severe fuel shortages. The shipment, linked to Russia and discussed amid ongoing sanctions, could provide a temporary lifeline and suggests possible renewed U.S.–Cuba engagement, though officials say sanctions policy remains and future humanitarian shipments will be considered case by case. Analysts view the move as potentially humanitarian relief, a sign of talks resuming, or a shift in priorities, but not a long-term solution to Cuba’s energy needs.
The U.S. and Russia agreed to reestablish high-level military dialogue for the first time in more than four years, aiming to ease tensions and push toward peace in Ukraine, following talks in Abu Dhabi that included Ukrainian officials. A prisoner exchange occurred: Russia freed 157 servicemen and 3 nationals, while Ukraine freed 150 servicemen and 7 civilians. Meanwhile, fighting continues along the front, with Russia targeting Ukraine’s power grid; Zelenskyy cites about 55,000 Ukrainian troops killed and Human Rights Watch notes rising civilian casualties, as NATO-aligned concerns over airspace and surveillance persist and Starlink disruptions complicate communications.
The expiration of the New START treaty leaves the United States and Russia without formal caps on deployed nuclear warheads, missiles, and launchers for the first time in decades, triggering fears of a faster, less predictable buildup and potential three-way competition with China; experts clash over the value of extending the limits vs pursuing a broader trilateral deal, with concerns about miscalculation and risk to allies if no interim arrangement is put in place.
With the expiry of the New START treaty, experts worry about a renewed US-Russia arms race as both powers modernize arsenals and long-standing arms-control structures fray; global leaders, including Pope Francis, have urged renewal, while talks about broader deals—potentially involving China and other nuclear powers—remain unsettled.
With the New START treaty expiring, the U.S. and Russia would no longer be bound by caps on deployed nuclear arsenals, raising fears of an unconstrained arms race that could pull China into a growing strategic competition. Putin has signaled willingness to extend limits for a year if Washington does the same, but Trump has not committed, prompting experts to warn of destabilization and increased global risk unless a successor agreement is reached.
As the New START treaty nears its February 5 expiry, the US and Russia risk an unrestrained nuclear arms race unless they extend or replace limits; Putin has proposed a one-year extension, but Trump hasn’t committed, and China’s growing arsenal adds urgency while U.S. debate splits over how to respond and modernize forces.
A SpaceX rocket has successfully launched a US-Russian crew to the International Space Station for a six-month mission, marking a rare area of international cooperation between the two countries despite ongoing tensions. The crew will conduct various experiments, including growing artificial replicas of human organs to study degenerative diseases in the low-gravity environment. This mission is the first spaceflight for three of the crew members and the third for the remaining member, who will join the multinational team maintaining the ISS.