Russia will continue to comply with the quantitative restrictions stipulated by the START

Russia intends to comply with the quantitative restrictions under the strategic offensive arms treaty with the United States (START), despite the suspension of its operation, should from the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The decision to suspend the START may be reversible. To do this, Washington must show political will, make good faith efforts for a general de-escalation and create conditions for the resumption of the full functioning of the treaty and, accordingly, comprehensively ensuring its viability, ”the statement says.

Russia will also continue to participate in the exchange of notifications with the United States on launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the agency added.

The press service also called on the United States to refrain from steps that could prevent the resumption of the New START if the necessary conditions for this mature.

President Vladimir Putin, during his address to the Federal Assembly on February 21, announced Russia’s unilateral suspension of participation in START III. The head of state said that Washington is now thinking about testing its nuclear weapons. In this regard, the head of state instructed the Russian Defense Ministry and Rosatom to be ready to test their nuclear weapons. “Of course, we will not be the first to do this. But if the United States conducts tests, then we will conduct them, ”Putin stressed.

START III was concluded in 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.