Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (r) with U.S. President and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (l). © Susan Walsh/AP/dpa
The U.S. is ready to hold talks with Russia and China on nuclear arms control. One cannot wait until all bilateral differences have been resolved.
Washington - The US administration is offering Russia and China talks on nuclear arms control "without preconditions." This does not mean that nuclear powers will not be held accountable for their "reckless behavior," said US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, in Washington.
But instead of waiting until all bilateral differences have been resolved, they are ready to start talks so that no new conflicts arise.
At the beginning of the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the last major agreement on nuclear arms control, the "New Start" treaty with the United States, suspended. This limits the nuclear arsenals of both countries and regulates inspections. In the West, he received sharp criticism for this.
"We will continue to inform Russia in advance about the launch of ballistic missiles and major strategic exercises," Sullivan said. However, Moscow will not continue to be given detailed information on a regular basis, as "New Start" actually envisages. "These steps will help to ensure that Russia does not benefit from a treaty that it refuses to comply with, and that the principle of reciprocity (...) is preserved," Sullivan emphasized. Dpa
