Russia's decision to suspend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Washington is "deeply unfortunate and irresponsible", but the United States remains ready to discuss the issue.

"We remain ready to talk about strategic arms limitations at any time with Russia, irrespective of anything else going on in the world or in our relationship," AFP quotes Blinken.

The US Secretary of State spoke after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would suspend its participation in the latest arms control treaty between the world's two main nuclear powers.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to reconsider its decision to suspend its participation in the START treaty.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which was extended for five years in 2021, remains the only arms control treaty in force between Russia and the United States. 

Signed in 2010, the treaty limits the number of strategic missile carriers and nuclear warheads in the Russian Federation and the United States to 700 and 1,550 respectively.