Russia Declares Independence from Nuclear Limits as New START Treaty Expires – 2/5/2026, 12:25:06 PM

Top world news stories as of February 5, 2026, include Russia declaring itself unbound by nuclear arms limits as the New START treaty expires, ongoing US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, and a new US-EU-Japan partnership on critical minerals.[1][2]

Key Developments

• Russia ends nuclear treaty compliance: On February 4, Russia stated it is “no longer bound” by limits on nuclear warheads under the New START treaty, set to expire on February 5, potentially sparking a new arms race involving the US and China; Putin had offered to extend limits but received no US response.[1]
• Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue: Negotiators from both sides held a second day of US-brokered discussions in Abu Dhabi on February 5, joined by US envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander; talks occur amid Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid and a 31% rise in Ukrainian civilian casualties in 2025.[2]
• US, EU, Japan form minerals alliance: Announced February 4 in Washington, the partnership targets China’s dominance in critical minerals like rare earths for tech and defense, including coordinated trade policies such as price floors.[1]
• France arrests suspected Chinese spies: Four people, including two Chinese nationals, were detained on January 31 for allegedly using an Airbnb in Gironde to intercept military data via Starlink and other systems for Beijing.[1]
• US: Trump assassination attempt convict sentenced: Ryan Routh, who hid with a rifle at a Florida golf course targeting Trump before the 2024 election, received life imprisonment on February 4 after a 2025 conviction.[1]
• Washington Post layoffs: The outlet began widespread cuts on February 4, eliminating its sports department and reducing international coverage amid financial losses, including scaled-back 2026 Winter Olympics reporting.[1]

These stories dominate headlines from major outlets like The Straits Times and KSAT, focusing on geopolitical tensions, security, and economic shifts; live bulletins from Republic TV and Euronews provide ongoing updates but lack specific new details in available snippets.[3][4]