This period saw the collapse of multiple key end of Cold War era treaties, including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF Treaty, as well as 'Open Skies' - as Washington pulled out. The 'New START' nuclear arms reduction treaty was also on the chopping block. 

In the lead up to the diplomatic back-and-forth and standoff sparked by Russia's amassing troops at the border with Ukraine, multiple Western security analysts stressed that the number one overarching issue currently between Russia and the US remains the placement of missiles and nuclear warheads in Europe. 

It appears this is still high on the Kremlin's agenda, even amidst war in Ukraine, as on Saturday it issued a statement saying Russia is ready to dialogue with the US on key security issues, namely the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

"If the Americans are ready for this, we will, of course, be able to resume dialogue and are determined to do so, as well as to work on the START, where there is also a certain pause," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in a televised statement, according to RIA Novosti.