"Russia proposes to extend the START Treaty for one year, and at the same time is ready, together with the United States, to take on a political commitment to freeze the number of nuclear warheads held by the parties for this period," the message says.
As stressed in the department, this is possible only on the understanding that the freeze will not be accompanied by any additional requirements from Washington.
If this approach suits the United States, the ministry noted, then the gained time can be used for comprehensive negotiations on the future control of nuclear missile weapons.
Earlier, the Kremlin expressed the hope that contacts on strategic stability will continue, despite the refusal of American partners from the proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend START III for a year.
On October 16, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said that Moscow's initiative to extend START III without preconditions, but without freezing the number of nuclear warheads, was "doomed to failure."