Russia Says Suspension Of Nuclear Weapons Treaty Is Not Affected By US Decisions To Stop Data Exchange

JAKARTA - Russia said on Wednesday Washington's decision to stop sharing some data about its nuclear power under the New START arms control agreement would not prompt Moscow to revisit its own decision to suspend its participation in the pact.

The United States announced on Tuesday it would stop exchanging information about its nuclear power, after President Vladimir Putin ordered Moscow to suspend its participation in February.

In this regard, Russia said it would voluntarily stick to the agreed limits on the number of nuclear warheads that could be deployed, regardless of the US move.

"We have voluntarily made a commitment to comply with the central quantitative limits set by the agreement," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying in an interview with the RIA news agency.

"That's all. Our position does not depend on whether America will or will not submit their data to us," he stressed.

Ryabkov continued, the US remains a party to the agreement and is still obliged to send data.

"The US, unlike Russia, does not officially suspend the Treaty. Therefore, they are obliged to comply with its full provisions," Ryabkov said.

Earlier, President Putin confirmed Russia's suspension last month by saying, without providing evidence, the West had been directly involved in Ukraine's attack on a Russian strategic bomber base deep within Russian territory.

He said NATO's demands for Russia to allow inspection of its nuclear base under the New START agreement made no sense.

It is known, signed in 2010 and will end in 2026, the News START agreement limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that can be deployed by the two countries which are the largest nuclear power in the world.

Under its provisions, Moscow and Washington can deploy no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and 700 ground-based missiles, submarines and bombers.

Neither the United States nor Russia said nuclear war would ever be won and should not occur.

However, the conflict in Ukraine has prompted Russia to repeatedly warn it will use any weapons in the arsenal, to defend itself if the Russian state's existence is threatened.