Russia emphasizes importance of New START treaty
(VOVWORLD) - Russia believes that it’s crucial for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) to remain in effect, as it is actually the only one that remains, if not viable, at least hypothetically viable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.
 Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Peskov said the US has destroyed the legal framework for arms control.
Russia remains committed to the goals of the New START Treaty and continues to regard it as a useful instrument for maintaining strategic stability and ensuring predictability in relations between the major nuclear powers, said Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov.
He said responsibility for the exacerbation of New START issues lies entirely with the US. There can be no progress on arms control without the US reconsidering its policy of inflicting strategic defeat on Russia.
Russia made the statement after the Wall Street Journal quoted a source in the US State Department as saying that Russia is violating the New START Treaty by refusing to allow inspections of its nuclear facilities.
The New START Treaty, signed in April 2010 and officially taking effect on February 5, 2011, limits the number of nuclear warheads and weapons carrying them that Russia and the US can deploy.