Peskov called the condition for the resumption of Russia’s participation in the nuclear weapons treaty

Russia will decide on the resumption of participation in the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START III) depending on the position of the West and on the readiness to “take into account our concerns.” This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.

“Everything will depend on the position of the West. Putin has clearly outlined what worries us. We now see NATO’s involvement in the conflict, we see, as the president said yesterday, NATO is working to turn a local conflict into a global one, on the one hand. NATO maintains an openly hostile position towards our country. And not just a verbal position, in words, but also acts, takes measures that encroach on our security. We must answer this. As soon as there is a willingness to take into account our concerns, then the situation will change,” he said.

The day before, February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a message to the Federal Assembly. During his speech, he informedthat Russia will suspend participation in START. The head of state noted that Russia is aware that the Kiev regime has attempted to strike at strategic aviation bases. “The drones used for this were equipped and modernized with the assistance of NATO specialists,” Putin said.

He recalled that at the same time, in January, NATO demanded “to return to the implementation of the START treaty”, including the admission of inspections at nuclear facilities. “This is some kind of theater of the absurd,” Putin stressed.

On the same day he introduced document for consideration by the State Duma. Today, February 22, the lower house of parliament unanimously accepted and sent it to the Federation Council for consideration. According to the text of the law, the decision on the resumption of Russia’s participation in START will be made by the country’s president. The document will come into force from the moment of its official publication.

START III was concluded on April 8, 2010 for 10 years, it was extended for another five years in 2021 with the coming to power of the administration of US President Joe Biden. It is now the last arms control treaty between Russia and the United States in force. It provided for the reduction of strategic weapons to 700 deployed (and 800 in total) carriers (submarines, intercontinental missiles and heavy bombers) and 1,550 deployed warheads.