Even if Russia and the United States sign...

Meanwhile, he said, the new arms cuts pact is necessary for improving the international atmosphere and the further "resetting" of the Russian-U.S. ties.

So far, the course towards the "reset" in bilateral ties, announced by Moscow and Washington in April last year, appears to have only yielded results in the diplomatic sphere, he said.

"Russian-U.S. trade turnover decreased last year from $36 to $16 billion, some Russian companies are still under sanctions, and the Jackson-Vanik amendment [which tied trade relations to emigration rights in the Soviet Union] is still in force," Margelov said.

MOSCOW, March 25 (RIA Novosti)