Russia, US Actively Negotiating New START Extension, Kremlin Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and the United States are actively engaged in negotiations on extending the nuclear arms reduction treaty New START, which expires on 5 February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev held a phone conversation with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. They discussed the New START extension and the prospects of boosting security cooperation.

"We are indeed engaged in energetic contacts, as time is running out quickly before the expiration of the deal", Kremlin spokesman Peskov said at a briefing. "The New START deal extension is the main topic on our bilateral agenda, it was discussed indeed", he specified.

Extension of New START serves the interests of the whole world, not just Moscow and Washington, the Kremlin spokesman added.