The head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, judged Tuesday in Athens that Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the New Start agreement on nuclear disarmament was “
very disappointing and irresponsible
”.
"
Russia's announcement that it is suspending its participation in New Start is very disappointing and irresponsible
," he told reporters at the US Embassy in Athens.
"
But of course we remain ready to discuss the limitation of strategic arms at any time with Russia regardless of anything that happens in the world or in our relations,
" he added.
"
We will be watching closely to see what Russia is actually doing
," the US secretary of state also said.
Rupture worsening
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the Russian-American New Start treaty on nuclear disarmament, deepening the rift with the West which he accuses of having caused an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. .
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Vladimir Putin also called on the Russian authorities to be "
ready for nuclear weapons tests
" if Washington were to carry them out first.
Signed in 2010, the New Start treaty is the last bilateral agreement of its kind linking the United States and Russia.
Moscow had already announced at the beginning of August to suspend the American inspections planned on its military sites within the framework of the agreement, ensuring to act in response to American obstacles to Russian inspections in the United States.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan denounced
the "absurdity
" of Vladimir Putin's anti-Western speech.
Antony Blinken is completing a tour in Athens which previously took him to Germany and Turkey.
He spoke on Monday evening with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis before meeting his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias on Tuesday.