Foreign
A third round of nuclear arms control talks between the U.S. and Russia on Monday started in Vienna, but Moscow signaled that no quick agreement was in sight.
The two-day meeting is led by U.S. Arms Control Envoy Marshal Billingslea and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
The two major powers are discussing the future of the New START treaty, a pact that limits strategic nuclear weapons and due to expire in February.
However, prerequisites for a breakthrough were yet to exist because of considerable discrepancies. Earlier, Ryabkov told the Interfax agency that he noted the attitude of the U.S. was positive.
Meanwhile, Washington had since urged China to join the Vienna negotiations. The U.S. delegation had infuriated Beijing and Moscow by posting pictures of Chinese flags and empty seats at the first round in June, though China had made it clear to reject trilateral talks on its small nuclear arsenal.
According to Moscow’s Vienna envoy, Mikhail Ulyanov, the open-minded professional dialogue is better than propagandistic rhetoric which prevailed in the area for a long time. (dpa/NAN)
– Aug. 17, 2020 @ 11:45 GMT |
Tags: Russian officials meet for new high-level arms control talks US
