Russia targets US facility in Ukraine
Fox News’ senior strategic analyst Ret. Gen. Jack Keane joined ‘Fox & Friends’ to analyze the recent Russian attack in Ukraine and its implications for possible peace talks.
Russia’s top nuclear official this week said Moscow is facing “colossal threats” and needs to update its nuclear capabilities.
Without specifying the source of Russia’s primary nuclear threat, Director General of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, stated, “the current geopolitical situation is a period of immense risks to the survival of our nation.”
“Hence, the nuclear shield, which also serves as a sword, guarantees our autonomy,” he remarked, as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA. “We recognize today that the nuclear shield needs enhancement in the coming years.”
Image illustrates data sourced from the Federation of American Scientists, showing that there are 12,331 nuclear weapons as of 2025. (Visual Capitalist via Getty Images)
Moscow reportedly retains nearly 4,400 nuclear warheads, with over 1,500 categorized as “strategically deployed” and the US has more than 3,700 warheads in its arsenal, including 1,400 deployed, according to the Arms Control Association.
The pursuit of nuclear disarmament was a shared global aim following the Cold War’s conclusion, yet this direction remains uncertain as the relationship between Washington and Moscow has become fragile again amid Putin’s military actions in Ukraine and his growing alliance with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The New Start Treaty remains the only bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, and though it was extended in 2021, it is set to expire in February 2026. The future of the treaty – first signed in 2010 – also remains unclear as Moscow paused its participation in the agreement in 2023.
Russian military vehicles, including Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, roll on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)
Putin said that this suspension meant he would continue to abide by stockpile limits under the treaty, but he would not allow for continued U.S. inspections.
Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for comment as nations increasingly look to expand their nuclear capabilities just six months ahead of when the New Start Treaty is set to expire.
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