US media: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov rejects the US proposal to resume nuclear arms control dialogue

　　China News Service, January 19. According to the Associated Press, on the 18th local time, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov rejected the U.S. proposal to resume nuclear arms control dialogue.

Lavrov said, "With the United States providing military support to Ukraine, this is impossible."

　　According to reports, at the 2023 annual press conference that day, Lavrov accused the West of encouraging Ukraine to increase attacks on Russian territory, saying that this increased global security risks.

At the same time, he warned that Moscow would still achieve its goals in the conflict despite Western aid coming to Kiev.

Data map: Lavrov.

　　Regarding the U.S. proposal to resume contacts in the field of nuclear arms control, Lavrov said this was "unacceptable."

He also said that "to hold such talks, Washington first needs to change its current hostile policy toward Russia."

　　U.S. President's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in June 2023 that even when U.S.-Russian relations are at their lowest point since the Cold War, the Biden administration is ready to unconditionally negotiate with Russia on future nuclear arms control.

He pointed out that "competition in strategic nuclear forces is not in the interests of our two countries."

　　But Lavrov charged that Washington’s motivation for pushing to restart nuclear negotiations is “to try to establish control over Russia’s nuclear weapons facilities and minimize its own nuclear risks.”

He said such U.S. demands were "disgraceful" and "outrageous" given that Ukraine had attacked Russian nuclear-capable bomber bases during the conflict.

　　Lavrov scoffed at U.S. proposals to resume dialogue on nuclear weapons, saying the U.S. position amounted to saying, "We have declared you enemies, but we are ready to discuss with you how to re-examine your strategic nuclear arsenal."

　　In early 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would suspend its participation in the Russia-US Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

On February 28, Russia sent a formal note to the United States regarding its suspension of participation in the treaty.

　　On May 29, 2023, Russian President Putin signed a decree to abolish the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

According to a statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 0:00 on November 7, 2023, Russia completed all procedures for withdrawing from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

The Russian Foreign Ministry commented that due to the obvious lack of negotiation capabilities among the authorities of NATO member states, Russia does not see the possibility of signing an arms control agreement with NATO countries.