MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Moscow would welcome the intention of the United States to preserve the bilateral Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty also known as New START with due account of mutual interests, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday.
Antony Blinken, a nominee for U.S. secretary of state, said during confirmation hearings at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that the administration of President-elect Joe Biden would try to extend the New START Treaty.
"Our experts are perfectly aware of the principal approaches of Mr. Blinken to the issue of Russian-U.S. relations. If his principle ideology hasn't changed, we are perfectly aware of what to expect," Peskov said.
"Russia and the Russian president unwaveringly support the preservation of this document, which is crucial and fundamental from the point of view of global strategic stability and security. If our U.S. colleagues actually demonstrate the political will to preserve this document, we would only welcome that," he said.
Peskov added that "efforts toward extending the New START Treaty should be in line with mutual respect and take into account each other's interests."