BEIJING, February 3. /TASS/. Russia will not make any demarches to the US ahead of the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), while Washington’s lack of response on the issue is also a response, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters.

"In the remaining day and a half before the New START Treaty formally expires, we will not make any demarches or official appeals to the Americans. We did everything necessary in a timely manner, and they had plenty of time to think it over. The lack of a response is also a response," he said while at the Russian embassy in China.