MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) - Russia is not against China, other nuclear powers joining the talks over the reduction of strategic offensive weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Are we against? Russia is not against. Only, don't shift responsibility on us for making this treaty multilateral. If someone wants to do so, let them try. We do not object," Putin told of the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday, when speaking of the prospects of extending the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty).
"Are we an obstacle on this path? No. But the arguments being put forward by our Chinese friends are simple. Yes, China is a huge country, a great power with a huge economy, 1.5 billion, but with a nuclear potential that is almost half as Russia's or America's, if not less. They ask a legitimate question: what shall we limit or will [this] freeze our inequality in this sphere?" Putin said.