Russia-US, Lavrov: ‘We will respect nuclear arms limits if the United States does the same’

Moscow (Russia), 11 February (LaPresse/AP) – Moscow will respect the limits set by the latest nuclear arms treaty with the United States, which expired last week, if Washington does the same. This was stated today by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking to the lower house of the Russian Parliament. ‘The moratorium declared by the president will remain in force as long as the United States does not exceed these limits,’ Lavrov told lawmakers, ‘we will act responsibly and in a balanced manner based on an analysis of US military policies.’ The New Start nuclear weapons treaty expired on 5 February. ‘We have reason to believe that the United States is in no hurry to abandon these limits and that they will be respected in the near future,’ he continued, ‘we will closely monitor developments.’ ‘If the intention of our American colleagues to maintain some form of cooperation on this issue is confirmed, we will actively work on a new agreement and consider issues that have remained outside the strategic stability agreements,’ Lavrov concluded.