The refusal of the United States to involve China in negotiations on nuclear arms control is positive and is a success of Russian diplomacy, said Sergei Zheleznyak, a member of the State Duma’s international affairs committee.
Earlier, the American media reported that the United States changed its strategy of negotiations on nuclear weapons. Now Washington does not demand the mandatory inclusion of the PRC in negotiations with the Russian Federation, but will focus first on a “political agreement” with Moscow, and it is supposed to involve Beijing only after.
“The refusal of the United States to involve China in negotiations on nuclear arms control speaks of the Trump administration’s intention to conduct a dialogue with our country on the preservation of the treaty between our states on previously accepted terms. This step by Washington is positive and is a success of Russian diplomacy. At the same time, we must not forget about the impulsiveness and inconsistency of the American partners, who can change the negotiation vector at any moment, “said the deputy to RIA Novosti.
He noted that Russia continues to insist on the need to extend the START-3 Treaty, which it is important to preserve on the conditions previously reached and agreed by the parties, but our country, as a responsible participant in international relations, is convinced that it is advisable to discuss changes to the existing provisions of the Treaty only after the mutual extension of the current agreement.
“In a changing world, which is also pointed out by the US representatives, one country cannot impose its conditions on other participants in international relations, especially in such a global issue as curbing the nuclear race. Russia and China will not participate in replacing generally recognized international laws with invented rules that are convenient only for the US Russia is ready to discuss with partners the most acute international problems, including collective security issues, only in the format of an equal and mutually respectful dialogue, “Zheleznyak stressed.
On August 17-18, Vienna hosted another round of consultations between the Russian Federation and the United States on strategic stability and arms control. The delegations were headed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and US President’s Special Representative for Arms Control Marshall Billingsley.
The Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START-3) is the only existing arms limitation treaty between Russia and the United States. It will cease to operate after February 5, 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously proposed extending the contract for five years without preconditions. Meanwhile, the US administration at various levels is stressing the need to include China in negotiations to negotiate a new trilateral nuclear deal between Russia, China and the United States. In Beijing, this idea is rejected.