MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Moscow and Washington have been holding closed-door consultations on implementing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) and the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said, addressing a session of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Friday.
According to him, the New START treaty is still in line with both countries’ interests. "The question is what is to be done, since the document will expire in 2021. We need this document and our president has put it clearly that we are ready to consider extending it," the Russian ambassador pointed out.
"We have some questions concerning Washington’s implementation of the treaty. We have been holding consultations with the US regarding our concerns, they are closed-door consultations," he said. "We have also been sending notes through the Russian Foreign Ministry’s channels, saying that problems still remain," he noted, adding that "the Americans need to assess Russia’s proposal and give a response about extending the document."
"As for the INF Treaty, our US counterparts only voice their own concerns. So closed-door consultations are underway," Antonov said.