In response to a question from reporters, she said that Russia "definitely is not" an ally for the United States.

"But this conversation partly took place because ... the expiration of the START Treaty was approaching ...", - RIA Novosti quotes Psaki.  

Also, the White House said that during the conversation, Biden "clearly expressed his and the US administration's significant concerns regarding reports of the actions of the Russian government."

On January 26, Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation initiated by the US, discussed, among other things, the extension of the treaty on measures to further reduce and limit strategic offensive arms (START).

On February 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry exchanged notes with the US Embassy on the completion of internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement on the extension of the START Treaty.