He said that representatives of the administration of US leader Donald Trump "continue to argue that" there is still time, "since the extension of the contract, in their opinion, can be completed in a matter of days."
The ambassador noted that such statements are made despite repeated explanations by the Russian side "that the extension of START-3 is not" just a technical moment, "but a rather extensive process."
“Therefore, it is surprising that the US State Department refused to hold consultations proposed by the Russian side on the legal aspects of a possible extension of the contract,” the diplomat said.
Antonov stressed that Russia is in favor of extending the START-3 and declared the readiness of the Russian side to come to an agreement to extend the treaty “even today”.
In late February, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States refused to meet with lawyers to work out the details of the extension of START III.