Russia will abide by START III: Deputy Foreign Minister

Moscow, Feb 22 (Prensa Latina) Russia will abide by the quantitative restrictions set by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START III), as well as the ballistic missile launch notification agreement, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

February 22, 2023
08:39

The diplomat stated on Wednesday on his Telegram channel that this is enough to maintain global strategic stability, and that everything else depends entirely on the United States, its decisions and the course to follow.

Ryabkov reiterated that Russia suspended its participation in START III because it considers that Washington disregards its commitments and the United States took the path of continued confrontation.

“What is happening in Ukraine is proof of Washington’s growing involvement as a party to the conflict. We are telling the Americans directly and frankly, and we told the US ambassador to Russia yesterday,” Ryabkov summed up.

President Vladimir Putin announced yesterday before the Federal Assembly that Russia was suspending participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START III), but this does not mean that it is withdrawing.

The head of state stressed that, before revisiting the continuation of work within the framework of the agreement, Moscow must understand how the arsenals of the nuclear powers that make up NATO, that is, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, will be taken into account.

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