Will return to nuclear pact if US abandons hostile stance, says Russia

Moscow: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow will return to full compliance with the New START treaty if the United States abandons its "hostile stance" towards it.

This comes in response to the US announcing its decision to withhold certain notifications required by the arms control treaty as a response to Russia's alleged violations.

Ryabkov claimed that Moscow was not surprised by the US decision and emphasised that Russia's suspension of the New START treaty remains unchanged, regardless of any countermeasures. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a bilateral arms control agreement signed in 2010 between the United States and Russia. It is aimed at limiting and reducing the strategic nuclear arsenals of both countries.

"Regardless of any measures or countermeasures from the US side, our decision to suspend the START Treaty is unshakable. And our own condition for returning to a fully operational treaty is for the US to abandon its fundamentally hostile stance toward Russia," quoted TASS news agency.

Under the New START treaty, the United States and Russia are required to reduce their deployed strategic nuclear warheads to a maximum of 1,550 each. It also sets limits on the number of deployed and non-deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers equipped with nuclear armaments.

The treaty includes provisions for regular data exchanges and inspections to ensure compliance. It promotes transparency and stability in the strategic nuclear balance between the two nations.

It plays a crucial role in maintaining strategic stability and confidence-building measures between the United States and Russia. It was subjected to periodic reviews and can be extended by mutual agreement.

The US state department on Thursday said that it has ceased providing Moscow updates as a "retaliatory countermeasure" due to "violations of the accord". Washington is withholding updates on the status and locations of its nuclear missiles and launchers but would continue to provide notification of the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, reported Al-Jazeera.

"The United States has adopted lawful countermeasures in response to the Russian Federation’s ongoing violations of the New START treaty. The Russian Federation’s purported suspension of the New START treaty is legally invalid. The United States notified Russia of the countermeasures in advance and conveyed the United States’ desire and readiness to reverse the countermeasures and fully implement the treaty if Russia returns to compliance," said a statement by the state department of the US.