He was asked whether the parties had reached an agreement on the extension of the START treaty and the freeze of nuclear arsenals for a year.

“We don't have an agreement yet, but of course, given that Russia has moved in the direction of the US proposal for this limitation, it looks like the two sides are getting closer together.

And we, I would say, are close enough to a deal, ”Billingsley said.

According to him, Russia and the United States at this stage are not discussing the treaty, but are talking about "a political agreement", which then - over the next year - "will be embodied in this treaty."

Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Russia, in principle, agreed to freeze its nuclear arsenal.

As the diplomat noted, the current START III treaty limits 45% of Russia's nuclear arsenal and 92% of the US arsenal.

On October 20, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow, proposing to extend the START treaty for a year, is ready, together with the United States, to freeze the number of nuclear warheads.