France regrets Russia's decision to suspend participation in New START treaty

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – France regretted on Tuesday Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the New START treaty, the only remaining arms control treaty with the US.

The French Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks that his country is ready to conduct a nuclear test, in case the US conducts one.

Addressing the Russian parliament earlier on Tuesday, Putin said the New START treaty was signed in a fundamentally different political reality and no longer reflects the situation. He announced that Moscow will suspend its participation in the treaty.

In its statement, the French Foreign Ministry further said the New START treaty is "an essential instrument of the international architecture of nuclear arms control, and strategic stability."

France called Russia to act responsibly and reconsider its decision.

The French ministry also underlined the importance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which Russia signed and ratified in 1996.

France said it expects Moscow to respect the moratorium of nuclear tests until it enters into force, as well as to respect the statement of Jan. 3, 2022 of P5 on preventing the nuclear war and avoiding arms races.