Washington DC, May 30: Russia has dismissed United States claims over alleged violation of the landmark Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Anatoly Antonov, Russian envoy to the US, said on Thursday adding these allegations were considered to be an attack over the arms control structure.
According to Sputnik news reports, US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley has said on Wednesday Washington believes Moscow may not be adhering to the CTBT which was outlined in the 1996 tender.
“We categorically reject these allegations,” Antonov said, noting that the US claims resembled a “well-planned concerted attack not only on Russia but on the arms control regime and the whole strategic stability architecture.”
The envoy stated he had been surprised the issue was not discussed during the bilateral discussions but had been travelled through media.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Washington DC said American claims against Moscow concerning over the bilateral new strategic arms reduction treaty (NEW Start) was misleading and outcome appeared from the suspension of the strategic stability between Washington and Moscow.
“We have taken note of recent increasing attacks by conservative political analysts against the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty #NewSTART and Russia’s arms control record.” the embassy wrote on its official FB account on Wednesday.
The diplomat has also denied US allegations that NEW Start permits Russia to bolster its nuclear weapons and dismissed claims the pact’s verification mechanism was ineffective.