Moscow accuses Washington of "provocation" after announcing an arms inspection in Russia

Moscow accused the United States of irrational and unnecessary escalation and provocation, by declaring an inspection operation on Russian territory under the New START Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and that it would not allow Russia to conduct mutual inspections.

Russia has said that it will not allow inspections of its weapons for the time being due to travel restrictions imposed by Washington and its allies.

In comments issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US announcement, which was sent to Moscow during a conference to review the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, prompted Russia to withdraw its cooperation.

"In the current circumstances, such a move seemed an outright provocation," Ryabkov added.

The New START treaty, which entered into force in 2011, sets a maximum number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy, and places limits on the deployment of missiles and bombers, both land and sea.

It also provides for inspections to be conducted to ensure compliance by both sides.

Last year, the treaty was renewed just days before it was due to expire, and any new agreement is likely to require lengthy negotiations as well as a lengthy ratification process.

US President Joe Biden said on August 1 that his administration was ready to urgently negotiate a new framework to replace the New START treaty, which is due to expire in 2026, but Moscow must demonstrate that it is ready to resume working with Washington to limit the spread of weapons. nuclear.

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