Moscow: US - Russia cannot dialogue

“I don’t think that in the near future the dialogue will return to the way it was before the US unilaterally suspended it,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said, referring to the US-Russia arms control agreement.

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 also find it difficult to make concessions in the dialogue. Unilateral concessions from Russia are out of the question. The question 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 solution. 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.

Earlier, 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 a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Washington has since 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 makes the US and NATO countries de facto direct intermediaries in the conflict.

Kong Anh (Source: RT)

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