Russia does not want the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) to suffer the fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear agreement, because of a changing US administration, Russia's Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said.
"We do not want to see the same situation that we see today with JCPOA because of the change of [U.S.] administration," the envoy said at the 2019 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference.
He also recalled that previous U.S. administration signed JCPOA but current decided to withdraw from this agreement.
Asked whether Russia will be ready to extend the New START Treaty without preliminary dialogue with the United States, the envoy said that such discussions are mandatory.
“It is clear to us that first, we have to start a dialogue," Sputnik cited him as saying. Antonov also said Russia "has to find solutions before we put our signature under any document."
Moreover, according to him, Washington and Moscow need to engage in extensive negotiations to reach agreements in nuclear non-proliferation and arms control.
Antonov stressed that Russia has elaborated excellent non-proliferation safety net, but has to improve it.
