China News Agency, Moscow, January 27 (Reporter Wang Xiujun) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov stated in Moscow on the 27th that the agreement to extend the five-year extension of the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures" is based on Russian terms. The Russian side hopes to negotiate with the United States on arms control issues in the next five years.
Ryabukov said that he and the US ambassador to Russia Sullivan exchanged notes on the 26th and confirmed the terms of the agreement to extend the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures."
The agreement to extend the five-year extension of the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures" was reached on Russian terms without any prerequisites or supplements.
Ryabukov said that Russia welcomes the decision of the Biden administration of the United States to extend the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures." This is a correct decision.
Russia and the United States have considerable time to carry out in-depth bilateral negotiations on all issues affecting strategic stability.
Ryabukov mentioned that the United States has complied with the key provisions of the "Treaty on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Offensive Strategic Weapons" and has not violated the treaty's restrictions on the number of deployable nuclear warheads and nuclear warhead delivery vehicles.
The two sides conduct regular mutual inspections 18 times a year under the framework of the "Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Offensive Strategic Weapons".
The number of inspections, the number of information exchanges, and other measures are all equal, and Russia has no unilateral responsibilities.
Ryabukov said that if the United States tries to undermine Russia's security, Russia will not rule out its early withdrawal from the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures."
On the 26th, the Russian and American presidents spoke on the phone, stating that in the next few days, the two sides will complete all necessary procedures to ensure that the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures" continues to take effect.
On the 27th, the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) and the Federal Council (upper house of parliament) successively approved an agreement to extend the "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures" for five years.
The "Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures" was signed by the leaders of Russia and the United States in 2010 and formally entered into force on February 5, 2011, and is valid until February 5, 2021.
The treaty stipulates that the two countries must comprehensively reduce the nuclear warheads and missiles deployed during the Cold War. Seven years after the treaty enters into force, their respective nuclear warheads will be reduced to 1,550, and the number of nuclear missile launchers and bombers that can launch nuclear weapons will be reduced to 800. The number of deployed nuclear warhead delivery vehicles must not exceed 700.
At present, the "Treaty on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Offensive Strategic Weapons" is the only effective major arms control treaty between Russia and the United States.
Prior to this, Russia and the United States had held several rounds of negotiations on the extension of the "Treaty on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Offensive Strategic Weapons," but no substantial progress has been made.
On January 21 this year, the White House Press Secretary Psaki stated that the United States seeks to extend the expiring Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Offensive Strategic Weapons Measures for five years.
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