The Pentagon commented on the possibility of extending START III

“President Biden’s decision to pursue a 5-year START III extension advances national defense.

Russia's adherence to this treaty has served our national interests well, and the Americans will be much safer if START III is maintained and extended.

We cannot afford to lose the deep inspection and notification tools included in the contract.

If START III is not extended soon, this will weaken America's understanding of Russian long-range nuclear forces, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

He noted that "the extension of the restrictions on strategic nuclear weapons stockpile until 2026 provides time and space for our two countries to explore new verifiable arms control agreements that could further reduce the risk to Americans."

At the same time, he added that the United States will not turn a blind eye to "challenges from Russia."

Earlier, the White House said that the US authorities are in favor of extending the Treaty on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Strategic Offensive Arms (START) with Russia for five years.