Russia’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that demands from the United States to resume inspections under the New START nuclear arms control treaty were “cynical” given Washington’s support for Ukraine.

In remarks published by Russian news agencies, the ministry also warned that Washington’s actions towards Russia posed a “real risk” of a direct military clash between the two nuclear powers, the RIA news agency reported.

Talks between Moscow and Washington on resuming inspections under the New START treaty were scheduled for last November but were called off at the last moment.