Russia warned the United States on Sunday, that it is not going to reduce its nuclear arsenal until America made its position on the missile shield in Europe clear.
"As long as the situation in the world, including with the US missile shield plans, remain unclear, we will not alter our nuclear arsenal. We have left the Missile Forces practically unchanged (during ongoing military reforms)," Chief of the General Staff, Nikolai Makarov was quoted by RIANovosti.
Moscow opposes Washington's plans to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and tracking radar in the Czech Republic as a threat to Russia's security, although the US says they are
needed to counter possible strikes from rogue states such as Iran.
Experts say that the US shield in Eastern and Central Europe will jeopardise Russian second-strike capability in case of a nuclear attack. They believe that controversy over the US plans for a missile shield in Europe may prevent Washington and Moscow from striking a new strategic arms reduction deal before President Obama's Russia visit next month to replace crucial START-1 treaty lapsing on December 5.
Russian and US negotiators have held two rounds of negotiations in Moscow and Geneva on a replacement for the START-1, probably without much progress, General Makarov's statement indicates.