This was stated in an interview with Kommersant by the US President's special envoy for arms control Marshall Billingsley.

“The ball is on Moscow's side, and it is up to it to decide whether it wants to conclude this agreement.

If not, that's okay.

This is perfectly acceptable and we will just move forward without it, ”he said.

According to the special envoy, if the Russian colleagues cannot get a "mandate to negotiate," the United States "will understand this, even though it will cause regret."

“We are going to modernize our nuclear forces.

Russia has largely completed its modernization of its nuclear arsenal.

We are just starting ours.

And we will be extremely happy to continue it without the restrictions provided for by START, ”summed up Billingsley.

As the American special envoy said, the United States offered Russia to prepare a memorandum on weapons, which does not require ratification, and in the future will lead to a framework concept and a full-fledged multilateral treaty.

If such an agreement is reached, START can be extended for a period of less than five years, he said.

Moreover, if Moscow does not accept such a proposal, then after the possible re-election of American President Donald Trump, the price of the issue will rise and Washington will put forward new conditions.