Russia’s decision to suspend participation in the Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was an absolutely logical and correct step. This was stated on February 26 by the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin in a commentary to the Rossiya-1 TV channel for the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin.”
Strategic pitchfork: why Russia is not satisfied with START
What are the nuclear arsenals of Great Britain and France, which are not taken into account by the treaty
According to him, the decision to do so came as a surprise to the West.
“For them (Western countries – Ed.) This is a surprise, but, in my opinion, an absolutely logical, firm and correct decision,” said the head of the special service.
Earlier on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had no objection to the participation of NATO countries in the discussion on START. He recalled that only Russia and the United States remain parties to the document.
According to the head of state, Russia had to return to discussing the issue of the nuclear potential of Great Britain and France, since NATO demonstrates that it is a military bloc, not a political one.
Earlier, on February 23, the US State Department announced its readiness to start negotiations with Russia on START issues “even tomorrow.”
On February 21, Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of participation in the New START during his address to the Federal Assembly. He stressed that this is precisely the suspension, and not the withdrawal from the treaty. At the same time, before returning to the discussion of the issue, it is necessary to “understand what countries such as France and Great Britain still claim, and how we will take into account their strategic arsenals, that is, NATO’s combined strike potential.”
On the same day, the Russian leader submitted a draft law on this to the State Duma, which was adopted. Then the document was unanimously adopted by the Federation Council.
The agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States on measures to reduce and limit strategic offensive arms was signed on April 8, 2010 in Prague. The document replaced the 1991 START Treaty. Upon entry into force, it also replaced the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty.