The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement “categorically” rejecting allegations that have been made in Washington that Russia is not in compliance with the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, and stated that there is nothing to discuss about New START so long as the U.S. is out to destroy Russia.
“We state with full certainty that, until Washington reviews its hostile course towards Russia and abandons its policy of increasing threats to our national security, any ‘positive signs’ or ‘steps towards’ on issues raised by the US within the context of compliance with the New START Treaty, will be unjustified, untimely and inappropriate. This includes, among other things, holding sessions of the bilateral consultative commission on this issue,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry underscored that the US has effectively initiated a total, hybrid war against Russia, “which poses a real danger of a direct military clash between two nuclear powers.”
“Washington’s demands to reinstate, no matter what, the inspection activity on Russian strategic weapons facilities are blatantly shameless, especially in circumstances, when the Kiev regime attempted to strike at these facilities with obvious military-technical and intelligence assistance from the US,” the Russian Ministry said, likely referring to Ukrainian cruise missile attacks on two Russian bomber bases in December.
The Ministry noted that it is impossible to do business “as usual” with the US, when Washington openly aims to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia in Ukraine, “where weapons are being pumped to and where instructors/mercenaries/servicemen from the US and other NATO member states are being sent to in ever increasing numbers.” The Foreign Ministry emphasized that Russia reaffirms its unwavering adherence to the New START Treaty “as an important instrument for the maintenance of international security and stability.”
The statement also notes that the treaty was signed in a different political reality than that which exists today. In particular, the preamble says that the sides “are working to forge a new strategic relationship based on mutual trust, openness, predictability, and cooperation… guided by the principle of indivisible security,” and aim to “further reduce the role and importance of nuclear weapons.” The Ministry stated: “We have to state that the US’s policy is diametrically opposed to all these goals.".
“Before accusing the Russian Federation of ‘non-compliance’ with New START clauses, the US should first resolve the years-long issues regarding the illegitimate exclusion of a significant part of their strategic weapons from the count under the treaty, which Washington either declared repurposed or renamed them so that they are no longer covered by the treaty’s definitions,” the Ministry concluded.
Russia is calling on the US to realize that relations with Moscow should be built only based on the “fundamental principles of equality and mutual consideration of interests.” Meanwhile, the Russian side expects that the US Administration will draw “relevant practical conclusions” from the current situation around the Treaty.
