Russia will continue decisively countering US destructive steps in the sphere of arms control and non-proliferation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Friday.

"We noted a new surge of absolutely unfounded critical comments made by the US regarding Russia's obligations in the sphere of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation," the foreign ministry said. "Washington is ignoring the civilized practice of the international community and settlement of emerging issues through negotiations," the ministry noted.

"The Russian Federation consistently and unconditionally fulfills its obligations in the sphere of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation," the foreign ministry stressed. "We categorically refute Washington's methods and means. We consider such US 'approaches' as purely propagandistic tricks that they are using in an attempt to convince the international community that their actions can be justified, that they are allegedly aimed at strengthening peace and security. We do not agree with this," the ministry added.

"We have all grounds to assume that the real reason behind such US actions lies in the real and rather serious weakening of US positions on the international arena and, as a consequence, Washington's fear to be called out on the steps they take to dismantle the system of international law and to force a certain rules-based order on the world, formulated by them in accordance with their immediate foreign policy needs," the foreign ministry said.

"We are open for close coordination and full-format cooperation with like-minded countries in the interests of strengthening strategic stability and international security," the foreign ministry said.