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Lavrov assures Russian plutonium will remain beyond arms activity

If Washington adjusts its foreign policy, Moscow will be prepared to resume compliance with the plutonium agreement, the Russian foreign minister assured

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. Russia’s suspension of the plutonium disposal agreement with the United States is expected to help Washington see that selective cooperation with Moscow will not succeed if the language of force continues to be used, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after President Vladimir Putin issued a decree to suspend the operation of the plutonium disposal agreement with the United States. The text of his commentary was published on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

"The decision we have made is a signal to Washington: attempts at talking to Russia from the position of strength, in a language of sanctions and ultimatums while continuing selective cooperation with our country there where this cooperation benefits the United States will not succeed," Lavrov said.

"If Washington adjusts its policy and fully eliminates the obstructions that emerged through its fault to bring about negative changes in the political, military and economic balance in the world, we will be prepared to resume compliance with the agreement," the Russian diplomat noted.

Nuclear disarmament

Russia does not refuse to fulfill commitments on nuclear disarmament, plutonium will remain beyond arms activity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"I would like to underscore that Russia does not quit its commitments in the sphere of nuclear disarmament, including reduction of the number of nuclear materials used in weapons programs," Lavrov added.

"Russian plutonium, stated as no longer required for defense purposes, will remain beyond arms activity," he said.

Plutonium and Russia-US relations

Suspension of a deal with the United States on plutonium disposal does not aim at straining relations with Washington and is fully in line with international law:

"Russia’s forced step does not aim to strain relations with the United States."

"We want to return Washington to the understanding that it is impossible to impose sanctions against us with one hand where it may be done rather painlessly for Americans and to continue optional cooperation in fields where it is beneficial for them with the other."

The ministry said "the decision by Russia to suspend the agreement is fully in line with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969.".