Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the condition for Russia to resume full implementation of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is that the United States abandons its hostile policy towards Russia.
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| On February 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law suspending participation in New START. (Source: Physicians for Social Responsibility) |
Speaking to reporters on June 3, Mr. Ryabkov said that the recent US countermeasures against Russia related to New START did not surprise Moscow because Washington had warned about this move in advance, although the measure was like an ultimatum. He emphasized that Russia's decision to suspend participation in New START is irreversible "regardless of any countermeasures or actions from the US."
Asked whether US countermeasures against Russia related to New START would aggravate the arms control situation, the Russian diplomat said this was "extremely serious".
According to Mr. Ryabkov, the comments of White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the annual conference of the US Arms Control Association in Washington on June 2 were not constructive and "advance Washington's agenda to disrupt the balance of interests." He said Russia would evaluate Mr. Sullivan's statements in detail.
The US has said it will stop providing Russia with certain notifications required by New START starting June 1, including updates on missile and launch site locations. The US said the decision was in response to similar actions by Russia.
On February 28 this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law suspending participation in New START, but not withdrawing from the treaty. He stressed that before returning to discuss the issue of continuing to comply with the treaty, Russia needs to know how New START will take into account not only the arsenals of the United States but also those of other nuclear powers in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Britain and France.
Russia and the United States signed New START in 2010. Under this agreement, Russia and the United States are obliged to exchange comprehensive data, including the number and characteristics of weapons systems, every six months.
The two countries pledged to reduce their strategic arsenals to no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers (TBs). In February 2021, Russia and the United States extended the treaty for another five years.
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