He commented on the media reports about the initiative to extend the contract not for five years, but for a year, so that there is time to prepare a new agreement.

“All this is speculation. Wait for the visit of someone of the level of Robert O'Brien (US Presidential Adviser on National Security. - RT) to Russia, ”he said.

Earlier, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation Christopher Ford said the United States authorities had not yet decided to extend START III.