“I don’t think that in the near future the dialogue will return to the way it was before the unilateral suspension by the United States,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said, referring to the arms control agreement between the United States and Russia.
According to Mr. Sergey Ryabkov, Moscow is still considering responding to the proposal to resume arms control and strategic stability dialogue that Washington sent last month.
Russia's RS 12M Topol intercontinental ballistic missile. (Photo: Getty)
“If Moscow decides to send an official response, Washington will find it difficult to make concessions in dialogue. Unilateral concessions from Russia are impossible. The issue is not about concessions or finding compromises, but whether such dialogue is necessary,” Mr. Ryabkov emphasized.
Russia has said it is ready to talk to the United States on nuclear weapons and other issues, but only on an equal footing. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this month that Washington should stop lecturing Moscow if it wants to resume productive talks.
The US and Russia have repeatedly blamed each other for the lack of progress in proposing an arms control plan. In July, the US proposed opening talks on a "framework" that would maintain limits on the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons when current limits expire in 2026.
Previously, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the administration of US President Joe Biden is ready to negotiate "without preconditions" with Russia on "nuclear risk" management and a "framework" to replace the New START treaty after it expires.
However, in response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow cannot discuss arms control issues separately from other issues.
Unprecedented tensions between Russia and the US erupted after Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Washington has imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow and provided arms and other aid to Kiev. President Joe Biden said the US would continue to support Ukraine “for as long as necessary.”
Russia asserts that the transfer of Western-made heavy weapons to Kiev effectively makes the US and NATO countries directly involved in the conflict.
Kong Anh (Source: RT)
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