State Department: decisions on START Treaty to depend on Russia’s actions

Any U.S. decision on extending the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will depend on whether it covers Russia's recently announced strategic nuclear weapons, Undersecretary of State Andrea Thompson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday.

"A decision has not been made at this time. Among issues to consider will be Russia’s decision to manufacture compliance issues regarding US weapons, and the uncertainty of whether or not Russia’s recently announced strategic nuclear weapons will be held accountable under the Treaty," Thompson said.

In addition, she stressed that Russia’s continued compliance with New START is a requirement for any potential extension of the Treaty, adding that Washington would continue to implement the treaty and verify Russian compliance on the issue.

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy David Trachtenberg also addressed the issue, telling Senate that the U.S. "assesses that Russia is in compliance" with the New START, adding, however, that Moscow keeps violating Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Earlier in 2018 the US suspended mutual flights over strategic military objects, which were inspection mechanism stipulated in the new START, meant to prove the signatories’ compliance with the agreement, Sputnik recalls.