Senior officials of Russia have underscored that their country remains committed to maintaining strategic stability through diplomatic means, as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between Russia and the United States is set to expire on Thursday.
As of Thursday morning Beijing time, no agreement had been reached between the two parties regarding the extension of the treaty or a replacement plan, and the pact appears headed for a hasty end.
Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that Russia continues to seek ensuring strategic stability through negotiations. He noted that Russia proposed a voluntary one-year extension of the treaty's core limits in September 2025, but received no formal reply from the U.S. side.
In a declaration issued on the eve of the expiration, the Russian Foreign Ministry said both sides are "no longer bound by any obligations or symmetrical declarations in the context of the Treaty, including its core provisions", and are free to determine their subsequent steps independently. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned earlier that without continued constraints, the world could become a more dangerous place within days.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated in January that he was not concerned about the treaty's expiration, expressing confidence that a new agreement would be reached.
New START was the last remaining major arms control pact between the two nations after the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019. Its expiration marks a significant shift in the global strategic landscape, raising concerns over a potential new arms race.
Russia vows to pursue strategic stability as New START treaty expires
Russia vows to pursue strategic stability as New START treaty expires
Polish citizens are feeling the squeeze of surging energy costs, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to roil the international energy market,
In Poland, rising fuel prices are gradually making their way into everyday life and the real economy. Many residents said higher energy costs are taking a heavy toll.
"I do think about this issue more and try to reduce my fuel consumption. Overall, everything happening right now is unsettling," said Pawel, a Warsaw resident.
"I really feel it. Prices have gone up a lot. We're trying to cope and can manage for now. Taxi fares haven't increased yet, but it's definitely getting harder," said Wiktor, another resident.
"Of course it has affected us. Because fuel prices have gone up, everything else is more expensive and costs more now," said Anita, another local resident.
Meanwhile, those working in the transport and service sectors said rising oil prices are directly impacting their businesses.
"The courier industry, like most taxi drivers, is soon going to face closure and be forced out of business. I used to drive international long-distance buses, and honestly, some people in that sector are also thinking about quitting," said Michal, another Warsaw resident.
Lukasz Goczek, a professor from the Department of Macroeconomics and Theory of Foreign Trade at the University of Warsaw, said the continued shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor, could leave global energy prices elevated for a long time, heavily impacting the world economy.
"Iran has this huge leverage. It's got the whole world in a chokehold because 20 percent of oil that's transported in the world goes through the Strait. It obviously means that the price of energy is going to increase. We see it at the petrol stations," said Goczek.
Goczek also noted that U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran have dealt a serious blow to the international order.
"I think that's pretty much, by now, the international law. If it's not that, it's definitely very, very illegal. There wasn't any reason for war. It just straightforwardly began without any warning. So it was much of a surprise. We need the international order to have peace, to prosper, to have trade," said Goczek.
Rising energy costs squeeze Polish households, businesses
