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Russian top diplomat suggests extending talks on nuclear disarmament

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov questions the necessity of new talks on nuclear disarmament between Russia and the US

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov questions the necessity of new talks on nuclear disarmament solely between Russia and the US, he said at Friday’s Moscow Non-Proliferation Conference.

"I am confident that a bilateral dialogue between Russia and the US on strategic stability will continue, but I am also confident that it would be hard to imagine a situation when a new, hypothetical right now, potential virtual round of talks on further reduction of nuclear arsenals could be held in a bilateral format only," he said.

The top diplomat noted that "the figures contained in the operating agreement (New START - TASS) are bringing the US and Russian arsenals close to the parameters that other nuclear countries had reached."

That said, the minister noted that it does not mean Moscow’s rejection of a dialogue with the US on strategic stability issues.

"The dialogue is underway. I cannot say that it provides hopes for achievement of specific meaningful results in the near future, but it will be renewed at least," Lavrov pointed out.