Russia Expects to Start Talks With US on Arms Control Within Weeks, Deputy Foreign Minister Says

The first meeting within the bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue on arms control will happen in a matter of weeks, not months, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with Kommersant newspaper on 16 June.

Although it is still unknown which thematic groups will be created within the framework of this dialogue, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden have agreed in principle on the matter, Ryabkov added.

It will be quite difficult to align approaches, but Russia is ready to face this "higher diplomatic mathematics" challenge, the high-ranking diplomat assured.

"It is important to have not only political will, but also a creative approach. This will be fully ensured from our side. We have sufficient expertise. Interdepartmental interaction is efficient. We hope that the US side will show an equally high level of professionalism," Ryabkov concluded.

On 16 June, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden agreed at the Geneva Summit to lay the groundwork for future arms control through strategic stability consultations. In addition, the two leaders reaffirmed the principle that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought".

(SPUTNIK)