Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia no longer has any contact points with the United States on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). The diplomat calls it “A WORLD WITH A BEGINNING: What’s Next?” said during the discussion. On the site of the Valdai International Discussion Club, broadcasting It was held on the social network of the VKontakte forum.
Ryabkov noted that there is no longer any reason to discuss START with the United States. He emphasized that the Russian Federation could not even consider any notification from the American side, because from an official point of view, the agreement was suspended.
“It would be a violation of federal law on our part,” the deputy minister said.
Ryabkov also noted that “openly provocative acts” took place in the context of START: the United States assisted the Kiev regime in the attacks on Russian strategic facilities announced under the agreement, while Washington demanded the return of access to Russian START facilities. The diplomat stressed that these demands were “notable for their inadequacy”, especially given that the American side initially deprived Russia of the opportunity to inspect strategic offensive weapons facilities on US soil on an equal basis.
February 28 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law On the suspension of Russia’s participation in START. According to him, Moscow should clearly understand what the other nuclear powers, which are members of NATO, are claiming before returning to the discussion of continuing to operate under New START.