BEIJING, January 31. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov will hold separate meetings with US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Andrea Thompson and with the Chinese delegation on the sidelines of the "Nulear Five" (Russia, UK, China, US, France) conference in Beijing.
Ryabkov told TASS earlier that he plans to explain Russia's position to Thompson and emphasize the importance of preserving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. He added that it depends on the US side whether they will be able to establish constructive dialogue on this issue. Ryabkov said the US did not indicate their readiness to engage in this work before the meeting in Beijing, while Washington is set to withdraw from the INF Treaty on February 2.
The Russian diplomat noted that Moscow will also raise the issue of preserving other important agreements - in particular, the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty).
Ryabkov reminded that he will also meet with the Chinese delegation. "Issues of bilateral cooperation will be on the agenda. Such work is very productive," he noted.