FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia will continue to pursue a responsible approach to strategic nuclear stability, despite the expiration of the latest nuclear arms control treaty between Moscow and Washington.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the START treaty, which places limits on each side's missiles, launchers and strategic nuclear warheads, will expire at the end of Thursday.
Gun control experts had previously said their assumption was that it would expire at the end of Wednesday.
"Today is the day the treaty expires and will no longer have any effects," Peskov told reporters.
Russia had suggested that both sides voluntarily extend the terms of the agreement for a year to allow time to discuss a successor treaty, a proposal to which it said the United States had never formally responded.
"The agreement is coming to an end. We view this negatively and express our regret," said Peskov, who added that the issue had been raised in a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping the day before.
"What happens next depends on how events unfold. However, the Russian Federation will maintain its responsible and attentive approach to the issue of strategic stability in the field of nuclear weapons and, of course, as always, will be guided first and foremost by its national interests," he said.
Lini një Përgjigje