Russia sets conditions for return to New START nuclear treaty

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on June 15 that Moscow remains committed to its decision to suspend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which sets limits on the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia.

Mr. Ryabkov said that the US and Russia have held discussions on this issue in recent months but the discussions have not brought any tangible progress.

The New START Treaty limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the US and Russia can deploy. (Photo: Getty)

“During the discussion on this issue, the parties' positions were different,” Ryabkov said, stressing that Russia's position on the New START treaty remains unchanged and that resuming the agreement is possible only if the United States drastically changes its attitude.

“Russia remains suspended from New START. Any reversal of this decision is acceptable only if the United States is ready to abandon its fundamentally hostile policy towards Russia,” the Russian deputy foreign minister added.

Mr. Ryabkov also said that during the negotiations on New START, the US side also affirmed its readiness to maintain the “quantitative limits” on warheads imposed by the treaty.

In addition, the two sides remain committed to informing each other about strategic ballistic missile launches at sea and on land.

The New START Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty entered into force in 2011 and was extended for another five years in 2021. The treaty limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy.

In his state-of-the-nation address on February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of participation in New START. He stressed that before resuming discussions on further work within the framework of the treaty, Russia wants to clarify the nuclear arsenals of other NATO powers such as Britain and France.

According to KONG ANH (VTC News)

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