Moscow has recently expressed its lack of confidence in Washington’s willingness to engage in dialogue regarding strategic stability and arms control, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The spokeswoman highlighted the necessity for Washington to change its current approach towards Russia in order to establish a meaningful dialogue on these crucial issues.
Zakharova emphasized that any potential discussions should focus on resolving key security issues, such as NATO’s aggressive eastward expansion, which has been a point of contention between the two nations. The diplomat noted that at present, there is neither any genuine interest from Washington to engage in dialogue nor any reason for Russia to initiate it.
Furthermore, Zakharova criticized statements made by Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Mallory Stewart, who claimed that Russia sought to link the resumption of arms control dialogue with the need for the US to end its support for the Kiev regime. The Russian spokeswoman described such an interpretation as oversimplified and one-sided.
Zakharova also pointed out that it was the United States, not Russia, which had withdrawn from several key treaties, such as the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The spokeswoman further accused Washington of using the post-Soviet space for its own political and military purposes at the expense of Russia’s core security interests.
The Russian Foreign Ministry official warned that the continued pursuit of such actions might eventually lead to a direct confrontation between nuclear powers, with potentially disastrous consequences for global stability.