Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
UN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States and Russia is a grave moment for international peace and security.
“For the first time in more than half a century, we are facing a world in which there are no binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States of America, the two states that hold the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons,” said A. Guterres.
The New START treaty, which limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems between Russia and the United States, expires on Thursday.
Throughout the Cold War and beyond, nuclear arms control between the two countries helped prevent catastrophe. It fostered stability and, in combination with other measures, prevented devastating miscalculations. Most importantly, it contributed to the reduction of thousands of nuclear weapons from national arsenals. Strategic arms control has significantly improved the security of all people, not least the people of the United States and Russia, said Guterres.
The expiration of the New START Treaty comes at the worst possible moment, as the risk of nuclear weapons use is at its highest in decades, he stressed.
"However, in this moment of uncertainty, we must seek hope. This is an opportunity to reset and create an arms control regime that meets rapidly changing conditions," said Antonio Guterres. "I welcome the fact that the presidents of both countries have made clear their recognition of the destabilizing impact of the nuclear arms race and the need to prevent a return to a world of unrestrained nuclear proliferation. The world now expects the Russian Federation and the United States to turn words into action."
A. Guterres called on both countries to return to the negotiating table without delay and agree on a new framework agreement that would restore verifiable restrictions, reduce risks, and strengthen shared global security.
New START, which entered into force in 2011, was the last arms control treaty between Russia and the United States after Washington withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019. –0–
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