“In pursuit of the goal of securing complete freedom of arms in the military sphere, Washington has taken a conscious course towards the systematic destruction of the entire architecture of strategic stability. The US withdrawal from the INF Treaty (Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. - RT ) is a vivid example of this, ”Lavrov noted.
He also recalled that due to the uncertainty created by the United States, the future of another agreement in the field of nuclear weapons - the Treaty on the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START III), which expires in February 2021, is at risk.
“This destructive line is fraught with a further imbalance in the system of international relations, increased conflict potential, and the unleashing of a new nuclear missile race,” the Russian Foreign Minister warned.
In this regard, Lavrov urged American partners to remember the importance of cooperation with Russia to maintain global security.
“We hope that in the USA they will reconsider their counterproductive approach and show responsibility. We remain open for a constructive dialogue with Washington on all issues of arms control, ”the Russian Foreign Minister emphasized.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced the risk of a nuclear war.
The editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko, in an interview with URA.RU, explained such a statement by saying that negotiations on the extension of START III were at an impasse.