Russia is ready to include its latest hypersonic missiles – Avangard and Sarmat in new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) when it is extended, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with a private TV channel.
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“We told the Americans hat we have presented our new systems, including hypersonic weapons. We consider that the Avangard and Sarmat systems are covered by the treaty. We are ready to include these weapons and systems in the current New START (when it is extended),” Lavrov emphasised.
“We have already presented Avangard to the Americans and we will be ready to do the same with Sarmat at a certain stage,” Lavrov clarified.
However, other systems, which President Vladimir Putin stated in his address to the Federal Assembly in March 2018, are not covered by the New START.
“We said that on these systems and on new US advanced military systems we are ready to hold a separate dialogue. It should be certainly held as part of a discussion on a whole range of issues, which influences strategic stability,” Lavrov stressed.
According to Lavrov, a treaty cannot cover all issues existing in strategic security because new technologies are developed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in his last year’s annual address to the Federal Assembly that Moscow was developing advanced weapon systems. This year, he continued this theme, saying that the serial production of Avangard missile systems had been launched in Russia.
Putin also announced about the successful pace of trials of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile and the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile with an unlimited range capability. As Putin said, the rearmament and the trials of new weapons are proceeding “rhythmically, without delays and in accordance with the plan.”.
Via: Tass
