Russian Official Uses "Game of Thrones" Clip to Warn About Global Security Changes After Nuclear Arms Control Treaty Expiration

Reuters report on February 5, 2026, Russian Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev made a public response regarding the upcoming expiration of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (commonly known as the New START Treaty). He posted a screenshot of an episode from the popular American TV series "Game of Thrones" on the social platform X, with the caption "Winter is coming," to warn about the serious changes in the global strategic security landscape.

In his post, Medvedev clearly stated that since 1972, there has always been a bilateral treaty between Russia (including during the Soviet era) and the United States to limit strategic nuclear weapons, from the first stage of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, the second stage of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, to the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Weapons and subsequent agreements. These mechanisms have long played an important role in maintaining global strategic stability. "Now, all of this has become history," he emphasized. With the New START Treaty about to expire, the United States and Russia will lose their first binding agreement on strategic nuclear forces.

According to the information, the New START Treaty will officially expire on February 5. This treaty is the only effective nuclear arms control treaty between the two countries after the 2019 US-Russia Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty expired. Previously, Russian President Putin had clearly stated that Russia was willing to continue to abide by the core restrictions of the treaty for one year after the treaty expires; Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov also reiterated recently that Putin's initiative remains valid, but Russia has not yet received a clear response from the United States.

The Kremlin has repeatedly expressed its position that the expiration of the New START Treaty will have a negative impact on global strategic security. The Russian proposal to continue the arms control mechanism is still on the negotiation agenda, calling on the US side to promote bilateral communication in a constructive manner and jointly maintain global strategic stability.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856229336363147/

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