Putin has also suspended a nuclear treaty with the United States. and he warned: we're going to give a symmetrical answer

"We will give a symmetrical answer (in the United States), our US partners have announced that they are suspending their participation in the treaty, as we do," said the Russian leader at a meeting with the ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Defense. , Sergei Shoigu.

Putin He noted that the United States had ignored Russian disarmament initiatives for years and "while seeking pretexts to dismantle the existing security system".

He also urged Foreign Affairs and Defense officials not to enter into new negotiations with the United States until "the US partners have the maturity to conduct a coherent and equal dialogue" on an issue "very important to we and for all countries ". for our partners and the rest of the world ".

At the same time, he denied that Russia is now considering participating in a new arms race with Washington.

IN ADDITION:

US Suspends Nuclear Treaty with Russia and Plans "Own Military Response Options"

"We must not be dragged into an expensive arms race," said the president, quoted by the EFE news agency.

For his part, Lavrov said that Moscow "was trying to do everything possible to save the treaty, taking into account its importance for strategic security in Europe and in the world".

At the same time, the defense chief said that the United States "violated the disarmament treaty" agreed during the Cold War for years and proposed to start developing a medium-range hypersonic land-based missile in Russia, an initiative approved by Russia.

At the time, the United States had given Russia on February 2 to comply "in a verifiable way" with the INF, an ultimatum rejected by the authorities of that country, which blamed Washington for its failure to comply. increase the risk of nuclear war in the United States. world by abandoning the main disarmament treaties for international security.