Moscow accuses Washington of ‘destroying’ arms control pacts

By AFP 1 February 2023, 2:26 pm

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In this handout photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on October 26, 2022, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk, northwestern Russia.(Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

The Kremlin accuses Washington of “destroying” weapons control agreements after the US said Russia was not complying with their last remaining arms pact, the New START treaty.

Tensions between the countries were already at breaking point before Russia sent troops to Ukraine last February, but have plummeted further since.

The US State Department faulted Russia for suspending inspections and canceling talks but did not accuse Moscow of expanding nuclear warheads beyond agreed limits.

“We believe that the continuation of this treaty is very important,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells reporters.

“On the other hand, we see that the United States has actually destroyed the legal framework in the field of arms control and security,” he adds.