June 5 (Bloomberg) -- Russia won’t make cuts in its nuclear arsenal until the U.S. makes clear its plans for a missile shield in Europe, the head of Russia’s General Staff said, as the two countries negotiate a new strategic weapons treaty.

“As long as the situation in the world is unclear, including U.S. missile defense, we won’t touch our nuclear capability,” Interfax reported, citing General Nikolai Makarov. Defense Ministry spokesman Alexei Kuznetsov confirmed the comments.

“Our strategic nuclear forces are a sacred issue for us,” Makarov said. “We’ll spend as much as needed to maintain strategic stability in the world at the required level.”

Denis McDonough, the U.S. deputy national security adviser, had no comment when asked about Makarov’s remarks.

The U.S. and Russia will continue talks later this month on a new nuclear-arms accord to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expires this year. The negotiating teams are expected to present a report on the talks by July, when U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to pay his first visit to Russia.

Ties between Russia and the U.S. reached a post-Cold War low under former President George W. Bush, who vowed to proceed with plans to deploy a missile shield in Europe in the teeth of Russian opposition. Obama has indicated greater flexibility on the plan.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lucian Kim in Moscow at lkim3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 5, 2009 11:47 EDT