WASHINGTON, February 25. /TASS/. The United States has not seen any change in the Russian strategic forces posture since Moscow's decision to suspend participation in New START, a strategic arms reduction treaty with the United States, the Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder told a briefing on Friday.
"We think that it's unfortunate that they've decided to suspend their participation in the new START Treaty. It's irresponsible, given the potential implications here of what we're talking about. But in regards to Russian Strategic Forces posture, we have not seen any indication that they have changed, nor have we changed our posture," he said responding to a relevant question.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin said in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly that Russia was suspending its participation in New START, a strategic arms reduction treaty with the United States, but was not withdrawing from it.
The President stressed that before returning to the discussion on the issue of continuing the work as part of New START, Russia has to understand itself "what do such NATO countries as France and the United Kingdom vie for and how will their strategic arsenals be taken into account."
On Wednesday, the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, unanimously adopted a law on the suspension of Russia's participation in the New START Treaty.