On February 3, Russia announced its readiness to enter a new reality, where there are no longer limits on nuclear weapons control, after the New START Treaty is about to expire. The information was released by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, an official in charge of controlling Russian weapons.
According to Mr. Ryabkov, if Moscow and Washington do not reach a bilateral agreement at the last minute, New START - a treaty signed in 2010 by US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev - will cease to be effective on February 5. He believes that the US's failure to respond to Russia's proposals to extend the limits in the treaty is also an answer.
Russia is ready for the situation where the two largest nuclear powers in the world no longer have any limits, for the first time in decades. Mr. Ryabkov emphasized that this is a "new reality" that Moscow has prepared in terms of policy and strategy.
Regarding arms control, Mr. Ryabkov said that Russia supports China's position on this issue. He did not elaborate but affirmed that Beijing's position is consistent with Moscow's approach to global strategic stability.
Referring to Iran, Mr. Ryabkov assessed that the US proposals to Tehran are ultimatum. This assessment reflects Russia's long-standing critical stance on Washington's approach to regional and international security issues.
Mr. Ryabkov also warned that if the US deploys a large number of missile defense systems to Greenland, Russia will be forced to apply corresponding countermeasures in the military field. According to him, any move to change the strategic balance will entail the necessary response from Moscow.
