MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Moscow has suspended its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in response to Washington’s anti-Russian policy, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.
"The US has got what it deserved for its dumb anti-Russian policy, i.e., suspending of the New START. You can’t fight against Russia, while making it seem that with the strategic stability issues, it’s business as usual. Serves you right!" he wrote on Twitter in English.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday that Moscow was suspending its participation in New Start but was not withdrawing from it. The head of state emphasized that before resuming discussions of further activities under the treaty, Russia needed to understand for itself "what NATO countries such as France and the United Kingdom are after" and how their strategic arsenals were going to be taken into account.