Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Russia has no intention to negotiate strategic offensive arms under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) as these negotiations are meaningless. Ryabkov added that the contract has been suspended entirely from a legal point of view. He made this statement during a session of the Valdai discussion club. The deputy foreign minister called for a change in the US hostile approach towards Russia as a prerequisite for negotiating within the framework of DNSV, which includes more than the military conflict in Ukraine. Although Sergei Ryabkov discussed START with US Ambassador to Moscow Lynn Tracy on January 31, the issue of the bilateral consultative commission’s timing on START remains unresolved as a result of the US position on Ukraine. The bilateral commission on START was scheduled to convene from November 29 to December 6, 2022, in Cairo but was canceled after the Russian side backed out of the negotiations, as announced by President Vladimir Putin on February 21 when he suspended Russia’s involvement in the START Treaty.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia is refusing to negotiate on strategic offensive arms under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). According to him, these negotiations are completely meaningless.
“Speaking of this from a legal point of view, we have suspended the contract in its entirety, without any exceptions,” Mr. Ryabkov said at a session of the Valdai discussion club, his words are quoted “Lenta.ru”.
As a condition for the negotiations within the framework of the DNSV, the deputy foreign minister called a change in the US hostile course towards Russia. This is not limited to the military conflict in Ukraine, Mr. Ryabkov said.
On January 31, in Moscow, Sergei Ryabkov discussed START with US Ambassador to Moscow Lynn Tracy. However, the issue of the timing of the session of the bilateral consultative commission on START has not yet been resolved. According to Mr. Ryabkov, this is also because of the US position on Ukraine.
The meeting of the commission on START was planned to be held from November 29 to December 6, 2022 in Cairo, but at the last moment the Russian side refused to participate in the negotiations. On February 21, in a message to the Federal Assembly, President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the START Treaty.
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In conclusion, Russia’s refusal to negotiate on strategic offensive arms under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) has created a roadblock in the efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that negotiations are meaningless without a change in US hostility towards Russia beyond the military conflict in Ukraine. The timing of the session of the bilateral consultative commission on START is still unresolved, and Russia’s suspension of participation in the treaty further complicates the issue. As tensions continue to rise, the international community can only hope for a willingness to restart negotiations and prioritize disarmament efforts.