US State Department says America’s nuclear posture remains unchanged

The impact of Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest statement regarding nuclear arms has not been clarified and so Americans will not change their nuke strategy, the US State Department has said.

At his annual address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, President Putin said Russia was suspending participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States.

"I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty," he said. 

US State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday that the practical impact of Putin's statement is yet unclear to the Americans.  

"We haven't seen any reason to change our nuclear posture, our strategic posture just yet," he said.

The US had previously accused Russia that it was not in compliance with the New START treaty.

Meanwhile, Putin on Tuesday charged the West with being directly involved in attempts to strike its strategic air bases.

Putin said Western countries are fanning the flames of a year-long war in Ukraine that has killed tens of thousands of people.

The Russian leader defended Moscow's special operation in Ukraine, reprehending the US and its NATO allies, saying they sought "limitless power" while reiterating Russia's responsibility to "liquidate the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev."

“They want to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ on us and try to get to our nuclear facilities at the same time,” Putin said, declaring his decision to suspend Russia’s participation in the treaty. “In this context, I have to declare today that Russia is suspending its participation in the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms.” 

ME