US expressed interest in discussing nuclear issues with Russia
The US administration is interested in discussing issues related to the nuclear sphere with the Russian Federation, and proceeds from the fact that Moscow is aware of Washington's position – as stated by the Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Bonnie Jenkins, TASS reports
Ms. Jenkins commented on the statement by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov that the dialogue on strategic stability between Moscow and Washington is unlikely to resume in the foreseeable future in the form in which it was previously. "Since I've heard him say that before, I'm not sure. I'm not sure how to answer that," she said.
"As the aide to the US President for National Security, Jake Sullivan, stated, we are still interested in discussing nuclear issues," Ms. Jenkins said. "I think they know what our position is on this issue, it has not changed," she added, speaking about the Russian side.
As Sergei Ryabkov said earlier on the side-lines of the Primakov Readings forum, he does not think that the dialogue on strategic stability will resume in the foreseeable future ‘in the form it was practiced until the moment when the United States unilaterally interrupted it’. The diplomat stressed that ‘unilateral concessions from the Russian side are certainly excluded’. According to Mr. Ryabkov, ‘a lot of negative things’ have happened in Russian-American relations recently, which does not allow resuming political dialogue on important issues. He noted Washington is responsible for that.
