The new START treaty (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on the limitation of nuclear weapons, the application of which, according to Vladimir Putin, Russia intends to suspend today, was signed in Prague on April 8, 2010 by then-US Presidents Barack Obama and Russian, Dmitry Medvedev. It came into force on February 5, 2011 and was extended for the first time by 5 years in February 2016 and a second time in February 2021. The deadline is now set for 2026. This is provided by the New Start, which replaces the two previous Start 1 Agreements and 2 (the latter never came into force) and the 2002 Moscow Treaty (Sort), which expired in 2012.
* NUCLEAR WARS. Limit of 1,550 nuclear warheads deployed within 7 years of treaty entry into force following respective ratifications. It affected warheads mounted on ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and the number of bombers available with one warhead each. This was a 74% decrease compared to the Start 1 agreement and a 30% decrease compared to the 2002 Moscow Treaty.
* VECTORS. Limit of 700 carriers, including ICBM and SLBM missiles and bombers capable of dropping nuclear devices: halving compared to Launch 1. Limit set to 800, also counting missiles that are not aimed.
* ANTI-MISSILE SHIELD. According to Washington, the agreement does not provide for any limits on missile defense programs.
An interpretation that Moscow has never shared.
* CHECKS. It envisages direct inspections, data and information exchange, reports on strategic weapons and on the locations listed in the document, and methods to facilitate controls.
* RATIFICATION. The contract consists of three documents: the basic text, a protocol that lists the rights and obligations associated with the document, and technical annexes that deal with the details. All three documents have been ratified by their respective parliaments.
* WITHDRAW. The contract contains an exit clause.
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