Ambassador Antonov: US violated New START core provisions for years

For many years, Washington has been substantially violating the central provisions of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) regarding the number of such weapons, declared Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov.

“It is also impossible to dispute the fact that for many years Washington has been in material violation of the central provisions of the START Quantitative Restrictions Treaty. Following a procedure not agreed upon with Russia, he declares SLBM launchers and heavy bombers incapable of carrying out nuclear tasks, ”the Telegram channel of the Russian embassy quotes him as saying.

Over a hundred of these missiles and bombers were illegally withdrawn from the START count, the ambassador claims, and Russian inspectors were not allowed to check the results of the “re-equipment” carried out. Antonov called Moscow’s decision to suspend participation in START the only correct one, saying that the United States needs to “revise its aggressive anti-Russian policy” in order to return to the full functioning of the treaty.

According to Antonov, Washington should have ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) long ago if the United States were a responsible nuclear power. It is the fault of the American side that this treaty never entered into force, the diplomat believes.

START was concluded in 2011 and extended in January 2021 for five years until 2026. It provides for a limitation of deployed carriers of strategic nuclear forces in the amount of 700 units, and warheads for them – in 1500 units.

On February 21, during his address to the Federal Assembly, President Vladimir Putin announced on Russia’s unilateral suspension of participation in START III. According to him, Russia does not break the agreement and is ready to return to it, provided that the nuclear potential of France and Great Britain, members of NATO, is taken into account. In addition, Moscow may return to the practice of testing nuclear weapons, which was suspended 32 years ago, if the United States resumes them (it has not been conducted since 1992).