Moscow-Sana
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his country's readiness to extend the START-3 without preconditions before the end of next year.
"Another aspect of the arms control agenda is the START III treaty, which is due to expire soon," Putin was quoted as saying by Sputnik. "All our proposals for an extension are still on the table. We have not received any response from partners."
Putin made clear that Russia is not interested in starting an arms race and deploying missiles in empty places.
The Kremlin earlier called on Western European countries to take part in talks on a new nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States after the conclusion of the Treaty on Medium and Short-Range Nuclear Forces, expressing Moscow's concern about NATO's plans to increase military spending.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of his country from the treaty of medium and short-range nuclear missiles signed by Moscow and Washington on the destruction of their arsenals of medium and short-range missiles in 1987 as part of US extortion attempts to obtain concessions from Russia in the field of strategic stability In response, the Russian president announced Moscow's suspension of its commitment to the treaty on medium and short-range missiles.