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Conducting arms control dialogue with US now politically wrong — Russian MFA

According to Sergey Ryabkov, relations between the two countries were now in a deplorable state

MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. It would be politically erroneous to engage in a dialogue with the United States on strategic stability and arms control issues now, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has told the media.

"To conduct a dialog [with the United States] on arms control in a situation like this is politically erroneous and wrong. We are not ready for it," he said in response to a TASS question.

He remarked that Moscow saw no chances of resuming a dialogue with Washington on strategic stability issues. According to the senior diplomat, relations between the two countries were now in a deplorable state.

"I don't think there is a basis for a renewed discussion on the issues that the Americans are raising, because all these issues are embedded in the broader context of our relations. Relations are in a dismal, deplorable, dire state. To improve them we need visible shifts for the better on the US side. We need visible evidence that they see it is impossible to go ahead with the failed policy they have been pursuing for a long time, especially with the start of the special military operation. But there is nothing like that," Ryabkov said. "It remains anyone’s guess how to go about the business of discussing strategic stability, the future of arms control and the fate of New START (strategic arms reduction treaty - TASS) under these conditions," Ryabkov added.