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Russia’s New START suspension

New START suspension not to bring sides closer to nuclear war — Deputy Foreign Minister

The diplomat underscored that the suspension of the treaty "by itself does not change anything in our attitude to how and in what hypothetical situation nuclear weapons could be used"

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Moscow’s suspension of its participation in the New START Treaty does not bring the sides closer to a nuclear conflict, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Russian TV Wednesday.

"I do not believe that the decision to suspend the New START Treaty brings us closer to a nuclear war," Ryabkov said.

According to the diplomat, logic and interpretations may differ.

"What can bring us closer to a nuclear war, however, are those who continue to escalate the situation, to raise stakes without looking back, in the most destructive and irresponsible manner - those being the US and its satellites. These are those who push the world towards the verge of such catastrophe. We have warned the Americans - we did it via closed channels and we do it in public - that this kind of policy is harmful," Ryabkov underscored.

Meanwhile, the diplomat underscored that the suspension of the treaty "by itself does not change anything in our attitude to how and in what hypothetical situation nuclear weapons could be used."

"There is no direct connection," the senior diplomat said. "But I underscore once again that the choice is for the Americans to make on where the world will go from here. They must eventually comprehend their responsibility for the fates of the civilization.".

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