Trump's Team Renews Nuclear Treaty Via Handshake and Hope, Not Paperwork

KEY POINTS

•Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner negotiated New START talks with Russia on February 7 in Abu Dhabi as the treaty approached Thursday expiration.
•Both sides agreed to observe treaty terms in good faith for six months despite no legal extension due to U.S. legal constraints.
•U.S. resumed military dialogue with Russia on Friday after a 2021 freeze, while Putin's Kremlin remained silent and the White House declined to comment.

In a plot twist probably cooked up during a Dubai sandstorm, Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner conducted nuclear treaty talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi just as New START's expiration clock ticked down to Thursday. The treaty, controlling a whopping 85% of global nukes, won't be legally extended because, surprise surprise, the law says 'nope.' Instead, both sides aim to 'operate in good faith' and shake on it like it’s a Hallmark movie pitch, hoping negotiations stretch for six months amid a Kremlin sulk fest. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio flexed China concerns, Putin ghosted the chat, and the military resumed Russia talks after a cozy 2021 shutdown — all while the State Department’s arms control experts were benched like dead weight.