Russia opposed to any US attempt to impose nuclear superiority

Moscow, Jul 11 (Prensa Latina) Russia is capable of preventing any attempt by the United States to break the balance and impose superiority in strategic weapons, deputy foreign minister Serguei Riabkov warned on Saturday.

Washington still considers likely to find ways to attain military advantage, stated Riabkov, after attending several rounds of talks with the US side to analyze the fate of the Treaty on the Reduction and Elimination of Strategic Offensive Arms (Start-3).

However, we have repeatedly shown that we have a more effective system for ensuring our own security with technological and combat means, stressed the deputy foreign minister. Yesterday, the head of the Russian diplomacy, Sergey Lavrov, said that within the framework of talks with the United States on strategic stability, aspects of control over new armaments could also be included.

But Washington insists on introducing the newest Russian weapons systems into the talks, which is basically a matter of knocking on an open door, he said.

In previous contacts, it was explained to the US that Russian rocket systems such as the Avangard hypersonic complex and the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, once deployed, would be under Start-3 restrictions, Lavrov stressed.

Russia would be willing to leave open the possibility that these could be the subject of discussion, despite the fact that they are weapons outside the classic terms of Start-3, he assured.

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