MOSCOW, Feb 7 - RIA Novosti. Moscow is ready to consider the possibility of extending control mechanisms to strategic systems, but strictly on the basis of reciprocity with the United States, unilateral concessions within the framework of dialogue are impossible, Vladimir Ermakov, director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
"As for our promising systems, those that fall within the agreed scope of its coverage will be counted under the current DSNV. These are intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers. The requirements established by the START Treaty do not apply to other means that do not belong to the mentioned categories," Ermakov said, answering the question whether Russia will include promising systems in the current START Treaty or this issue should already be considered only in the context of the future "security equation".
"In the long term, Russian experts are ready to consider the possibility of extending the principles and control mechanisms to systems of interest to both sides that are capable of solving strategic tasks. But strictly and exclusively on the basis of reciprocity. Unilateral steps towards the wishes and requirements of the United States are impossible," Ermakov said.
In Geneva, two rounds of interdepartmental consultations between the Russian Federation and the United States on strategic stability were held in the summer of 2021 as a follow-up to the meeting of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States. Following the results of the last meeting, which took place at the end of September, progress was made on some issues, including the creation of two working groups - "on the principles and objectives of future arms control" and "on capabilities and actions that can have a strategic effect."
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| Draft agreement on security guarantees between Russia and the United States. |
| Source: RIA Novosti |
