Russia says working with US on ways to resume inspections under New START Treaty

Embassy of Russian Federation to US said in a statement published on Saturday that Washington's position that sanctions do not prevent Russia from conducting New START Treaty inspections in United States is "misleing", reported TASS, citing Newsweek. However, now both nations are working with each or on ways to resume inspections under New START Treaty. It is to mention that all  inspection-related activities under New START Treaty have been suspended by mutual agreement, stated Russian embassy.

Earlier, citing COVID-19 pandemic as key reason, Russian government h suspended an arrangement that allowed US and Russian inspectors to visit each or's nuclear weapon sites for inspection under 2010 New Start Treaty.

Russia says US' claim that sanctions don't prevent Moscow from nuclear inspections is 'misleing'

" inspection activities under New START Treaty have indeed been suspended since early 2020 by mutual agreement due to COVID-19 pandemic," Russian embassy said. It was furr noted that Russian officials are closely working with American colleagues to resolve organisational and technical issues to re-start inspections.

"We are working closely with our American colleagues within framework of New START Bilateral Consultative Commission to remove organisational and technical obstacles to resuming inspections," embassy said, ding that "some issues have been resolved but by no means all of m."

Russian Embassy highlighted that remaining problem is due to anti-Russian restrictive measures imposed by America.

" remaining problems stem from anti-Russian restrictive measures imposed unilaterally by United States. State Department's stated that sanctions do not prevent our inspectors from conducting verification procedures on US territory, which is "misleing," Russian diplomats stated.

Russian Embassy furr asserted that cooperation on matters of arms control should be held on an equal basis and mutual concerns and interests should be considered. Recalling Russian President Vlimir Putin and US President Joe Biden's commitment to resume New START, Russian Embassy said both countries h reaffirmed it "in August messages to participants of 10th NPT Review Conference."

" US president stated that ministration was rey to negotiate a new arms control framework expeditiously. However, we have received no concrete proposals from Washington on resumption of bilateral dialogue on strategic stability," Russian embassy furr noted, saying that New START Treaty expires in 3.5 years, and even if Russia and US reach some negotiation, remaining time to work out an agreement is extremely short.

Image: AP