The Kremlin Calls Negotiations On The New START Agreement Must Consider Britain-France Armed Forces.

Dmitry Peskov. (Sergey Fadeichev / TASS)

JAKARTA - Dialogues on the future of the Strategic Arms Reduction Agreement (START) should begin between Russia and the United States, but the issue of Britain and France's nuclear arsenal inevitably has to be resolved, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Of course negotiations must begin at the bilateral level. After all, the START Agreement is a bilateral document. But in the future, we will not be able to ignore this weapon. Especially because this weapon is part of Europe's global security problem and overall strategic stability," he said.

In February 2023, President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow was suspending its participation in the agreement, although it did not withdraw.

Before returning to the dialogue agreement, Russia wanted to understand how the weapons of other NATO nuclear countries - Britain and France - would be held accountable, he said.

START III or New START Baru sets limits on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles, certain other missiles, and nuclear warheads for Russia and the United States.

However, Moscow and Washington indicated their intention to continue to voluntarily comply with the quantitative restrictions on the core of the agreement until its term ends.

On September 22, President Putin said at a Security Council meeting Russia was ready to comply with these restrictions for one year after the agreement ended in February 2026.

However, President Putin stressed this was only possible if Washington did the same.

Last week, Peskov said Moscow was waiting for Washington's response to President Putin's proposal.

"We are waiting for a response," he said.