US-Russian Arms Reduction Treaty Still Observed: Russian Defense Ministry

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) is still alive and is being fulfilled, according to Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.

MOSCOW, December 24 (Sputnik) – The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the United States and Russia continues to be observed, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Wednesday.

"This agreement is called the "golden standard" in reaching agreements on global security. This agreement is still alive and is being fulfilled today," Antonov said during a briefing in Moscow.

Antonov added that New START is one of the few things left in Russia-us global security cooperation.

"Of course, we need to preserve this treaty," he said.

Earlier in December, US Under Secretary for Arms Control Rose Gottemoeller said that despite the tensions between the United States and Russia over the Ukrainian crisis, both countries continue to fully implement the treaty to significantly reduce the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads by 2018.

Gottemoeller also stated that regardless of the crisis in relations, there are signs of "pragmatism and a businesslike attitude" toward the New START implementation.

The New START Treaty is a February 5, 2011, agreement between the United States and Russia to reduce their stockpile of nuclear weapons. Under the treaty, the two countries will meet the treaty's limitations on strategic arms by February 5, 2018.

The provisions of the treaty were agreed upon for a period of 10 years, with the signatories retaining the right to extend its term by up to five years. It envisages a number of verification measures, including on-site inspections and exhibitions, data exchanges and notifications concerning strategic offensive arms and facilities covered by the treaty, as well as provisions to facilitate the monitoring of the treaty.