MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The suspension of Russia's participation in the Treaty with the United States on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START), means that it stops interacting with the U.S. within the framework of this document, Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachyov said, adding that Russia would stay committed to the treaty's caps.
"The suspension means that the treaty retains its legal force. Hopefully, we will still be able to comply with our obligations on the treaty's limitations unless the circumstances change drastically. This is directly linked to the tasks of the provision of our national security," Kosachyov told reporters in response to Interfax's question after Russian President Vladimir Putin made an address to the Federal Assembly.
"If the treaty retains its legal force, then perhaps, in my opinion, the cap obligations imposed by this treaty also remain in place, while interaction with the other side stops," Kosachyov said.