“Of course, we will be ready to discuss this issue with our American colleagues once their general position on the key issues becomes clearer,” the Russian Foreign Minister emphasized, making it clear that Moscow prefers the path of dialogue.

The head of Russian diplomacy noted that with the termination of the agreement on February 5, both nations are no longer bound by its obligations.

“Under the current circumstances, we proceed on the basis that the parties to START III are no longer bound by any commitments or symmetrical declarations within the context of the treaty, including its fundamental provisions, and that, in principle, they are free to choose their next steps,” the Foreign Minister stated.

At the same time, a statement issued earlier by the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Moscow “intends to act responsibly and judiciously,” based on a thorough analysis of Washington’s military policy and the overall strategic situation.

For his part, US President Donald Trump proposed working on a new strategic arms agreement with Russia instead of extending START III.

abo/arm/mem/odf