UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Russia and the US to maintain INF treaty and agree to extend the treaty to further reduce and limit strategic offensive arms, Al Jazeera reported. 

"I call on the parties to the INF Treaty to use the time remaining to engage in sincere dialogue on the various issues that have been raised," the UN chief added. "It is very important that this treaty be preserved."

Guterres also appealed to the US and Russia to extend the treaty, which will expire in 2021 and consider the possibility of further reductions in nuclear arsenals.