Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has urged Washington to rethink its confrontational posture in order to keep the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in effect. He conveyed this view in an interview with Newsweek, underscoring that mending the current standoff requires a recalibration of the tone and approach from the United States.
The ambassador suggested that restoring full functionality to START hinges on Moscow and Washington overcoming mutual distrust. He argued that the United States should abandon its aggressive stance and stop posing threats to Russia’s national security, a move he described as essential for returning to the treaty’s framework and ensuring stable, verifiable arms control provisions.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow remains open to resuming START obligations if Washington withdraws its hostile course. The ministry reiterated that the suspension of the agreement was a response to what it called a provocative and unfriendly attitude from the United States, signaling a willingness to revisit the matter should Washington move toward greater predictability and restraint.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov commented on the grounds for Moscow’s position, noting that Moscow has consistently linked its stance on START to the security environment created by its counterpart. His remarks emphasized that the pause is not permanent and that Russia is prepared to discuss a return to the treaty under a more cooperative atmosphere.
President Vladimir Putin, in remarks to the nation, indicated that Russia had decided to suspend participation in START while stopping short of withdrawing from the agreement entirely. The formal move was accompanied by a presidential decree, signaling a strategic pause designed to prompt a reassessment of Western policies and to encourage a renewed dialogue aimed at preserving the essential elements of the arms control regime under more favorable conditions for all parties involved.