 NATO urges Russia to respect nuclear pact. NATO called on Russia to respect the only treaty it has with the United States aimed at keeping a lid on nuclear weapons expansion and urged Moscow to allow on-the-ground inspections of military sites to resume. The so-called New START Treaty was signed by Russia and the US in 2010. It caps at 1,550 the number of long-range nuclear warheads they can deploy and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons. It allows short-notice inspections of each other's nuclear bases and support facilities. We note with concern that Russia has failed to comply with legally binding obligations under the New START Treaty NATO Ambassador said in a statement. The 13-nation US-led military alliance supports the treaty and believes that it helps to limit the expansion of nuclear forces. The envoys said that Russia's refusal to hold consultations or to allow US inspections since last August prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the treaty and undermines the United States' ability to adequately verify Russian compliance with the treaty's central limits. We call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the treaty by facilitating New START inspections on Russian territory and by returning to participation in the treaty's implementation body, a forum in which the two sides could consult NATO said. Inspections of US and Russian military sites under the New START Treaty were paused by both sides because of the spread of the coronavirus in March 2020. The US State Department warned that Russia's refusal to facilitate inspection activities prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the treaty and threatens the viability of US-Russian nuclear arms control.