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The proposal will be handed over to Russian officials, said an informed source, who preferred not to make his name public because he commented on the unpublished decision of the new US administration.
If not renewed, the new START contract entered into in 2010 must expire on February 5. This is the last pact to limit the nuclear arsenal in force between the two countries.
Russia on Wednesday called on the new administration of US President Biden to take a “more constructive” approach to the START talks.
“We hope that the new US administration will take a more constructive approach in its dialogue with us,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We are prepared for this work in accordance with the principles of equal rights and mutual interests.”
Biden calls the treaty, negotiated by former Democratic President Barack Obama and renewable for up to five years, an “anchor of strategic stability between the United States and Russia.”
In October last year, the administration of then-President Donald Trump declared that it had reached an agreement in principle with Russia on the extension of the new START agreement, but Moscow soon rejected the American conditions.
The Trump administration has unsuccessfully demanded that China join the treaty. Three weeks before the US presidential election, the administration said it supported maintaining the treaty indefinitely.
“In fact, we are prepared to extend the new START treaty for a period of time if in return they agree to limit – freeze – their nuclear arsenal,” said US negotiator Marshall Billingslea.
“We believe that an agreement has been reached in principle at the highest levels of our two governments,” he told the conservative Heritage Foundation. Billingslea then flew to Helsinki to meet with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov, and said he felt a breakthrough and commitment.
However, Riabkov said that the US demand for a temporary freeze on nuclear activities is an “unacceptable offer.” “If the Americans agree to the documents we give them, an agreement could be reached even tomorrow,” he said.
“But with so many differences, I have no idea what our colleagues in Washington are using to present such theories,” Novosti told RIA.
“We are ready to conclude this agreement. In fact, we can do it tomorrow. But Moscow will also have to show the political will to make that happen,” Billingslea said.
Then there was disagreement over U.S. demands that Russia suspend nuclear activities and allow inspections during the extension period. Billingsleas said the United States would also agree to appropriate inspections.
“If we know about the Russians, it is that they are constantly violating the treaties,” he said.
The Trump administration has already pulled out of a major Cold War treaty restricting medium-range nuclear forces, citing Russia’s non-compliance with the treaty.
The US administration also renounced a treaty that allowed both parties to fly over classified or important locations against each other.
There have been reports that Trump was outraged by a Russian spy plane flying over his Bedminister golf courses in New Jersey.
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