20 Jan 2021 19:30

Duma's Slutsky expects Biden administration to seek extension of New START

MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Incoming United States President Joe Biden's administration is likely to decide to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee head Leonid Slutsky said.

"I think the democratic camp, the Biden administration, will submit a proposal to Congress within the next few days on extending the New START," Slutsky said at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

"We stand ready to carry out the same ratification procedures, if necessary, even despite the extremely short time that's left," he said.

The New START is to expire on February 5, 2021, but may be extended for another five years, he said.

The New START is a bilateral treaty between Russia and the U.S., envisioning the reduction and limitation of deployed strategic nuclear weapons, which took effect on February 5, 2011. It was designed to last at least ten years and may be extended upon mutual consent for another five years.