Russia has decided to cancel annual talks with the US centred on nuclear weapons. 

State-run Russian agencies have reported that Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, said the Kremlin was left with “no other choice” this year. 

The US first announced the cancellation of its “New START” nuclear arms reduction treaty – due to launch from Cairo this week – yesterday.  

The Russian response, according to Ria Novosti, comes as the nations split on their priorities pertaining to nuclear weapons. 

Ryabkov said: “By and large, the situation was such that we had no other choice. The decision was made at the political level.”

The minister said that Russia had priorities other than resuming nuclear inspections. 

He reportedly added: “The Americans focused exclusively on the topic of resuming inspections…meanwhile the solution of other issues has been and remains a priority for us.

“We have repeatedly explained our position…but we did not see the slightest desire on the American side to move in this direction.”