“I will reiterate the Secretary-General’s position, which has been clear, and that is that the US and the Russian Federation should resume the full implementation of the New START Treaty without delay,” said Stephan Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general.

Dujaric underlined that the New START and successive bilateral treaties on strategic nuclear arms reduction between the two countries had provided security not only for Russia and the United States but for the entire international community.

“This should not need to be said, but it needs to be said, a world without nuclear arms control is a far more dangerous and unstable one with potentially catastrophic consequences.  Every effort should be taken to avoid this outcome, including through an immediate return to dialogue,” he added. (ILKHA)