05:49Russia: We couldn't ignore US attempts to add problems - Ryabkov on 'New START' nuclear talks delay
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed that the reason behind the postponement of the US-Russia Commission on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was due to Washington’s attempt to create 'problems', while speaking in Moscow on Wednesday.
"We did so [postponement of the commission] because we couldn’t just ignore what has been ongoing, an attempt by the US to add problems to the place, and undeniably the whole situation in and around Ukraine, and around new territories of Russia, is so difficult, troubling, and in many ways this is because of the US actions that just pour gas on fire now and again, so we couldn’t continue this business as usual," Ryabkov said.
The diplomat added that there was now no exact date for the bilateral consultative commission’s meeting.
"On the other hand, it is way too premature for me to predict when Russia will come back with alternative dates for this possible bilateral consultive commission meeting. In any case this is not going to happen right away and I have my doubts in regard to possibility to do so before Christmas, before New Year," Ryabkov noted.
The deputy foreign minister also stated that the Russian side is also opposed to raising the temperature of nuclear rhetoric.
"We also fully subscribe to the formula which was confirmed several decades ago on the fact that nuclear war cannot be won and does should not be fought. <…> So I see no reason why this discourse continues. It’s the interests of those who want to starve further the general sense of uncertainty and find ways how to continue this blame game on Russia. We cannot accept it. It’s completely absurd and has nothing to do with the reality," Ryabkov added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the postponement of the meeting in Cairo to a later date.
"The previously scheduled session of the Bilateral Consultative Commission on the US-Russian START Treaty in Cairo (November 29-December 6) will not take place on those dates. The event is postponed to a later date," it reported.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also commented on the Russian side's decision to postpone.
"On all fronts, we note the highest level of toxicity and hostility on the part of Washington as part of the total hybrid war unleashed against Russia, virtually every US move towards our country is subordinated to a pathological desire to harm Russia wherever possible," Zakharova claimed.
"Such a situation could not but affect the sphere of arms control, which cannot be seen as something autonomous, existing in isolation from geopolitical realities," she continued.
According to media reports quoting the State Department, Washington was "ready to reschedule at the earliest possible date as resuming inspections is a priority for sustaining the treaty as an instrument of stability".
The treaty (officially 'Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms') between Moscow and Washington was origninally signed in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011. In early 2021, the US and Russia agreed to extend it until February 2026.
05:49Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed that the reason behind the postponement of the US-Russia Commission on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was due to Washington’s attempt to create 'problems', while speaking in Moscow on Wednesday.
"We did so [postponement of the commission] because we couldn’t just ignore what has been ongoing, an attempt by the US to add problems to the place, and undeniably the whole situation in and around Ukraine, and around new territories of Russia, is so difficult, troubling, and in many ways this is because of the US actions that just pour gas on fire now and again, so we couldn’t continue this business as usual," Ryabkov said.
The diplomat added that there was now no exact date for the bilateral consultative commission’s meeting.
"On the other hand, it is way too premature for me to predict when Russia will come back with alternative dates for this possible bilateral consultive commission meeting. In any case this is not going to happen right away and I have my doubts in regard to possibility to do so before Christmas, before New Year," Ryabkov noted.
The deputy foreign minister also stated that the Russian side is also opposed to raising the temperature of nuclear rhetoric.
"We also fully subscribe to the formula which was confirmed several decades ago on the fact that nuclear war cannot be won and does should not be fought. <…> So I see no reason why this discourse continues. It’s the interests of those who want to starve further the general sense of uncertainty and find ways how to continue this blame game on Russia. We cannot accept it. It’s completely absurd and has nothing to do with the reality," Ryabkov added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the postponement of the meeting in Cairo to a later date.
"The previously scheduled session of the Bilateral Consultative Commission on the US-Russian START Treaty in Cairo (November 29-December 6) will not take place on those dates. The event is postponed to a later date," it reported.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also commented on the Russian side's decision to postpone.
"On all fronts, we note the highest level of toxicity and hostility on the part of Washington as part of the total hybrid war unleashed against Russia, virtually every US move towards our country is subordinated to a pathological desire to harm Russia wherever possible," Zakharova claimed.
"Such a situation could not but affect the sphere of arms control, which cannot be seen as something autonomous, existing in isolation from geopolitical realities," she continued.
According to media reports quoting the State Department, Washington was "ready to reschedule at the earliest possible date as resuming inspections is a priority for sustaining the treaty as an instrument of stability".
The treaty (officially 'Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms') between Moscow and Washington was origninally signed in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011. In early 2021, the US and Russia agreed to extend it until February 2026.