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Russia’s New START suspension

Senior Russian diplomat does not rule out US withdrawing from New START treaty

Earlier, the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs recommended adopting a bill suspending Russia's participation in the New START treaty

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The potential of the US withdrawing from the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) cannot be ruled out, their actions are difficult to anticipate, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

"I don't rule anything out. [The United States] left several agreements before. What they will do next is difficult to anticipate, but Washington's behavior does not inspire optimism," he told reporters.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs recommended adopting a bill suspending Russia's participation in the New START treaty.

The treaty is an agreement between Russia and the United States calling for both countries' nuclear arsenals to be reduced. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced his decision to suspend Russia's participation in New START treaty in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday. The president stressed that Russia was not withdrawing from the treaty.

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