“We are facing a situation where our American colleagues in various fields have not only shown a reluctance to understand our signals, take our priorities into account, but have acted in the opposite direction,” said Russia’s deputy foreign minister. Serguei Ryabkov, quoted by the Tass agency.
Ryabkov argued that Russia believed that the US was “focused solely on the issue of returning inspections” under the New START treaty.
“Against the background of a deep divergence between Moscow and Washington, not only in priorities but also in values, we have not seen the slightest desire in the US to move in this direction,” explains Ryabkov.
The deputy minister said that Russia and the United States have not yet managed to fully develop the work program of the bilateral consultation committee on New START, which will take place in Cairo between today and December 6.
Ryabkov also suggested that the Russian military campaign in Ukraine influenced the structuring of dialogue in the Egyptian capital.
“Arms control and dialogue in this area cannot be immune to what is happening around. And the overall picture is quite complicated, because it has influenced the negotiations,” the Russian deputy minister justified, admitting that the conflict in Ukraine “has theme influenced”.
Riabkov added that Russia would propose new dates for the meeting to the US, but admitted the commission is unlikely to meet before the end of the year.
“I insist: this is not a question of cancellation, but of postponement. Soon we will propose new dates to the Americans. But that will not happen immediately,” said the secretary of state.
The meeting was announced by Ryabkov after Russian Foreign Intelligence Director Serguei Narishkin and CIA Director William Burns discussed the growing nuclear risk and international tensions caused by the Russian military intervention in Ankara. in Ukraine.
The United States suspended arms control dialogue after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
in turn, in August, Moscow informed Washington of its decision to ban US on-site inspections of its nuclear weapons arsenal, citing difficulties in doing the same in the US because of Western sanctions on overflight permits and the granting of visas to Russian authorities.
In February 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Joe Biden, extended the only remaining nuclear disarmament treaty between the two powers, signed in 2010, for five years.
New START, which includes a stockpile inspection system, aims to reduce the number of warheads by 30% to 1,550 in each country.
Source: DN
