Both Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitri Medvedev reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the arms limitations specified by the New START Treaty for one year, if the U.S. agrees to do this as well. Medvedev indicated that Russia was expecting a response from the U.S. by Feb. 5, the date the treaty expires. While President Donald Trump had indicated that he would be agreeable to it, this is not considered an official response, as many of the President’s statements are often speculative and contradictory.
“First of all, we need to wait until Feb. 5th and see if the U.S.has any meaningful reaction to the Russian initiative,” Medvedev said in an interview with Kommersant on Jan. 25. “Theoretically, based on the calendar, there’s still a small chance for positive decisions.”
