Since Soviet era, 'there's always been an on-going conflict over strategic arms reduction talks'

Russia said on Wednesday that the United States had destroyed the legal basis for the New START arms control treaty between the two countries, but that the agreement remained "very important" for Russia, regardless of the present situation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding after the United States on Tuesday accused Russia of violating the treaty - the last major pillar of post-Cold War nuclear arms control between the two countries - by refusing to allow inspection activities on its territory. For more, FRANCE 24 is joined by Dr. Rod Thornton, Senior Lecturer specialising in the study of the Russian military, and Research Fellow in the Defense Studies Department at King's College London.