The situation is difficult, but surmountable
Moscow. December 24. INTERFAX-Russia and the United States will not have restrictions on strategic weapons in the event of non-renewal of the START-3 treaty, said the chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
"Today, the elements of control are contained only in the START treaty, which expires on February 5 next year. After this date, neither Russia nor the United States will have any restrictions. We consider this situation as difficult, but surmountable, " Gerasimov said at a briefing for foreign military attaches on Thursday.
On December 21, at a meeting of the Board of the Russian defense Ministry, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to extend start-3, but there is still no response from the United States.
"There is no certainty about the strategic offensive arms Treaty, which, as you know, expires in February next year, 2021. We have repeatedly stated our readiness to extend this agreement. There is no answer, " Putin said at the time.
December 16 commander of the strategic Missile forces (RVSN) Sergey Karakayev said that Russia has measures to counter the negative consequences of the US withdrawal from start-3.
"The strategic missile forces are ready to participate in any of the response options Russia maintained a high combat readiness of the strategic weapons, is being planned re-equipment of missile groups in modern missile systems has potential for increasing the combat capabilities of groupings for an adequate response to emerging military-technical threats", - said the commander.
Start-3 is an agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States on further mutual reduction of the arsenals of deployed strategic nuclear weapons, which entered into force on February 5, 2011. The operation of the new start-3 will end in 2021.