MOSCOW (Sputnik) – US President Donald Trump called the treaty "one-sided," as well as a "bad deal" in an interview with Reuters published on Thursday.
"Of course, Russia is categorically against this treaty being suspended, we will insist on its extension," Ozerov said.
According to Ozerov, the New START deal is "fundamental to global security."
"This could become a bad example for other states that are striving to own nuclear weapons. If the United States is going to ignore the New Start treaty, this will clear the way for North Korea and a number of other states," the lawmaker said.
"The agenda of the possible high-level talks between Russia and the United States is expanding with an every Trump's statement. The earlier these issues are discussed at a personal eye-to-eye meeting, the better."
The treaty with the formal name Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms was signed between Russia and the United States in April 2010 in Prague, and entered into force on February 5, 2011. The Treaty’s duration is ten years — until 2021, unless superseded by a subsequent agreement. Under the Treaty, the United States and Russia must meet the Treaty’s central limits on strategic arms by February 5, 2018, that is seven years from the date the Treaty entered into force.
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.
