Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said today that Moscow will not reconsider its decision to withdraw from the new nuclear arms control treaty until the United States changes its policy towards Ukraine, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

President Vladimir Putin announced last week that Moscow was suspending its participation in the treaty, accusing the United States of trying to impose a “strategic defeat” on Russia in Ukraine.

Interfax quotes Ryabkov as saying: “Until the US changes its behavior, until we see signs of common sense in what they are doing regarding Ukraine. […] we see no reason to reconsider or reconsider the decision to suspend our participation in START.”

The treaty was signed in 2010 by then-presidents Dmitry Menvedev and Barack Obama to limit the number of strategic nuclear warheads each side could deploy. The treaty was strengthened by a system of mutual inspections and data exchange.

Military analysts say that breaking up the treaty or failing to renegotiate it will raise nuclear risk as the standoff over the conflict in Ukraine escalates.

Ryabkov said the two countries continue to discuss issues related to the treaty through “channels,” Interfax reports.

Ryabkov also said, according to Interfax, that Russia is ready to communicate and exchange information with Washington on New START as needed, but sees no need for regular dialogue at the moment.

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters.