NEW YORK CITY (UN). Aug 22 (Interfax) - The New START is at risk after the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, according to acting Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky.
"It [the New START] expires in February 2021, and it is also at risk. Key members of the incumbent U.S. administration have repeatedly indicated both on and off the record that they are not interested in preserving the New START in its current form," Polyansky said at an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council convened at the request of Russia and China.
The United States formally withdrew from the INF Treaty on August 2. Washington put the blame on Russia, which, it is words, failed to honor the treaty. Russia dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
It became known on Monday that the Pentagon has tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, whose characteristics contravene the terminated INF Treaty.
Given the declaration of U.S. plans to develop intermediate-range missiles, tests of one of those missiles, and the emerging threat of their deployment, Russia backed by China asked for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.