Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov claimed Tuesday that “provocation” led Russia to halt US inspections of Russian nuclear facilities under the 2011 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). New START, to which the US and Russia are parties, limits the number of nuclear arms each country can have and allows for inspections by either country to verify adherence. 

In his statement, Ryabkov claimed that problems caused by Western sanctions make it unreasonably difficult for Russia to inspect US facilities. He also said the recent attempt by the US to inspect Russian facilities catalyzed the halt, stating “[t]he United States’ notification of the intention to conduct an inspection on our territory worked as the trigger. In the current situation such a step looked like an outright provocation.” 

The Russian Foreign Ministry put out a statement after the halt, claiming:

Our goal is to bring an end to this unacceptable situation and ensure the functioning of all mechanisms in the Treaty in strict conformity with the principles of parity and equality of the parties, as was implied when it was agreed upon and entered into force. At present, these principles are not being observed. Thus, as a result of the US-inspired unilateral anti-Russia restrictions, normal air flights between Russia and the US have been suspended while the airspace over US ally and partner countries is closed to Russian aircraft carrying Russian groups of inspectors to ports of entry on American territory. At the same time, there are no similar restrictions for US inspectors coming to Russia.

The Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Igor Vishnevetsky stated he does not expect a quick response from the US on this issue, telling Russian state news Agency TASS “Now, mutual discussions are to take place, to be followed by some kind of reaction from the United States. I don’t expect it to be quick: they will need to study everything thoroughly and to gain understanding of what they are willing to do next.”

Earlier this month US President Joe Biden invited Russia to renewed START talks, as the current treaty expires February 4, 2026.