Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, conveyed that the current moment does not warrant discussion about an imminent revival of dialogue between Moscow and Washington on strategic stability. He shared this in an interview with TASS, highlighting the friction and sharpened rhetoric that now dominate the bilateral relationship. Ulyanov stressed that any serious restart would require a clear shift in Washington’s approach to Russia and a readiness to engage in constructive, verifiable steps on strategic issues. (TASS)
He pointed out that Washington openly states its objective of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and is pursuing numerous hostile measures toward that end. Given this posture, he asked what form of dialogue could be meaningful at present and underlined that the atmosphere surrounding such talks cannot be conducive to genuine negotiation while adversarial actions persist. (TASS)
Ulyanov added that for dialogue to resume, the United States would need to fundamentally reassess its anti-Russian policy and demonstrate a sincere commitment to finding mutually acceptable solutions. This would involve a reassessment of positions that block progress, a willingness to address concerns on both sides, and concrete steps toward restoring trust. (TASS)
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that without a change in Washington’s behavior there could be no meaningful path to reexamine or reverse Moscow’s decision to suspend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. He argued that until the United States shows signs of common sense in its Ukraine-related actions, Moscow sees no basis for reconsidering START suspension. (Ryabkov statements reported through Russian channels)
Before that, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, stressed that Washington must take actions that would create the conditions for a return to the full functioning of the Russian-American START Treaty. He emphasized the need to correct the anti-Russian policy in order to lay the groundwork for renewed cooperation on strategic arms control. (Ambassador Antonov remarks carried by Russian media)
February 28 saw President Vladimir Putin signing a law that formalized Russia’s suspension of participation in the START Treaty framework. This legislative move reflected Moscow’s assessment of the strategic balance and the political climate in Washington, and it signaled a firm stance on how Moscow views the prospects for bilateral arms control amid ongoing tensions. (Russian government communications)