“The task is to explain beautifully what Russia is to blame for”: why in the USA they said that the extension of START III was inappropriate

Russian testing of hypersonic missiles could cause the US to refuse to renew the strategic offensive arms reduction and limitation treaty (START III). According to an anonymous senior source in the US administration, the actions of the Russian Federation cast doubt on the feasibility of further negotiations.

“Russia's attempts to develop a hypersonic cruise missile raise questions about the feasibility of extending START III, which expires in 2021, for a five-year period,” a source told Reuters.

According to him, the explosion in the Arkhangelsk region in the White House is clearly associated with the development of such missiles. At the same time, he admitted that Washington was not ready to talk about whether the explosion was nuclear and to name its causes. At the same time, the agency’s source suggested that the incident could be a “significant obstacle” to the development of the Russian program for developing such weapons.

At the same time, in the USA, the topic of Washington’s possible refusal to extend START III was touched upon earlier. So, this was stated by the presidential adviser on national security John Bolton.

“There is no solution yet, but I think (extension. - RT ) is unlikely,” he told Washington Free Beacon.

In his opinion, the status of hypersonic missiles that Russia is developing is not clearly specified in the contract, and therefore START III is ineffective.

“Therefore, an extension (of the contract. - RT ) for five years without taking into account the threats posed by the new delivery systems would be criminal negligence,” the adviser expressed confidence.

In addition to Bolton, charges were brought against Russia by the head of the strategic command of the US Armed Forces, General John Hayten. He emphasized that the latest Russian striking deterrents go beyond START III. Moreover, Heiten said, Russia did not inform its bilateral advisory commission of its developments, as the contract requires.

“We see that they (Russians. - RT ) develop potential beyond (this agreement. - RT) . And it bothers me, ”said the general.

In the State Duma, the statements of Washington’s representatives are considered an attempt to find a plausible excuse for their withdrawal from START III.

“The Americans are cramped in all the agreements, and in order to withdraw from them, they will blame the Russian Federation for everything. It is on the dangers that supposedly emanate from Russia that the whole concept that Americans are advancing today is built: dominance around the world, the deployment of any cruise missiles, any bases anywhere in the world. In order to comply with formalities, Americans simply withdraw from all contracts. The most important task they set for themselves is to beautifully explain what Russia is to blame for, ”Alexander Sherin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, told RT.

In his opinion, the United States cannot reconcile with the fact that Russia is talking with them on an equal footing, while the rest of the countries recognize the primacy of the United States in almost all matters.

“There are two positions in the world: American and wrong. Trump took over the pioneer leader of the whole world, he says who is right, who is to blame. In fact, today the world is controlled by five to six states. Economic wars with China, economic sanctions against Russia - this clearly shows that the Americans are not satisfied with the independence of Russia and China. The de facto Americans are stripping their tails. There is a solution that needs to be adapted to existing logical chains, ”the deputy summed up.

Experts, in turn, believe that the United States ascribes to START III those provisions that are actually absent in it.

“The agreement clearly defines the numbers, and this agreement does not mention hypersonic cruise missiles anywhere as means that relate to offensive weapons. It lists strategic bombers, ballistic missiles of various bases, air-based cruise missiles with nuclear warheads, but there are no hypersonic cruise missiles there. Now the Americans are looking for a high-likeli occasion to accuse Russia of not observing this treaty. Although the agreement clearly limits the quantity and the specific list of nuclear weapons, and, of course, our number of carriers and warheads corresponds to the letter of the law, ”said military expert, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine Alexei Leonkov in an interview with RT.

He also noted that Washington prefers not to pay attention to the fact that hypersonic weapons in Russia are being developed in response to their withdrawal from the treaty on limiting anti-ballistic missile defense systems and the creation of anti-ballistic missile defense positions in Europe.

State of emergency in the Arkhangelsk region

Recall that on August 8, an explosion occurred in a military unit near the city of Severodvinsk in the Arkhangelsk Region during a test of a jet liquid propulsion system. Testing the rocket was carried out on the offshore platform. As reported in "Rosatom", rocket fuel ignition and subsequent detonation occurred after completion of the tests.

As a result of the accident, five employees of the company were killed, and three more were injured. Rosatom pledged to provide their families with long-term financial support.

As noted, after the explosion in Severodvinsk, a short-term increase in the radiation background was recorded. So, for half an hour the level of radiation increased to 2 μSv / h. However, then the situation returned to normal.

Trump's unethical statement

The incident in Severodvinsk was not disregarded by US President Donald Trump, commenting on his Twitter. So, he said that the United States allegedly “learned a lot” thanks to this incident.

“The explosion during a failed missile test in Russia helped the United States learn a lot. We also have similar, but more advanced technologies, ”Trump said.

The United States is learning much from the failed missile explosion in Russia. We have similar, though more advanced, technology. The Russian “Skyfall” explosion has people worried about the air around the facility, and far beyond. Not good!

At the same time, he classified the exploded rocket as Skyfall in NATO terminology, which corresponds to the promising Russian 9M730 Burevestnik cruise missile equipped with a small-sized nuclear power plant. It is not known why Trump mentioned this particular type of weapon in his message, although there is no indication of it in the message from Rosatom. Moreover, according to media reports, the Petrel will be equipped with starting solid propellant and mid-flight nuclear aircraft-jet engines.

In the State Duma, the statement of the American president was considered unethical.