Sergey Ivanov: Russia is ready to start negotiations with the United States on START

Russia is ready to start negotiations on the new text of the agreement on monitoring strategic offensive weapons. This was the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Ivanov today at a press conference following the results of the Munich Security Conference.

"Such negotiations will begin quickly and actively as soon as the American side is ready for them," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that "the topic of disarmament, especially the reduction of strategic offensive weapons, is one of the most relevant for a simple reason: the clock is included - until December 5 this year there is very little time left."

Ivanov recalled that on December 5, the contract between Russia and the United States on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons expires. On the agenda, he believes, is worth the creation of a new mechanism of both the reduction and control of weapons, and there are "a lot of pitfalls."

“In matters of strategic security, of course, partners should also trust each other, but they must also check the implementation of the agreements reached,” Ivanov emphasized. “I think that a special mechanism will be created on this subject.”