WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier, US media reported citing anonymous US officials that President Donald Trump criticized the New START treaty in his phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer refused to comment on the allegations.
"It would be a tragic mistake if we failed to take advantage of Russia’s offer to extend the treaty,” Perry told POLITICO. "Trump’s reported comments that New START is a 'bad deal' and favored Russia is simply wrong."
Perry stated that the treaty calls for equal disarmament and a verification process that is "if anything, harder on Russia."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on its position regarding the New START treaty extension yet, as there is a need to update information on the parties' stance, and the negotiations will depend on the US stance on the issue.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty treaty requires the parties to the contract to reduce and limit the number of deployed and non-deployed strategic offensive arms. It stipulates that the parties may agree to extend the treaty for a period of no more than five years.
Before the end of his tenure, former US President Barack Obama had made a proposal to continue reduction of nuclear arsenals of both Russia and the United States. The Russian side has rejected the proposal citing a number of unresolved issues in bilateral relations, such as extension of the US missile defense system. Washington has also attempted to prolong a treaty, however the Russian Foreign Ministry said that it had not received an official proposal.
