Russia Doesn't Rule Out Further High-Level Meetings With The United States, But Doesn't Discuss Ukraine

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, (Wikimedia Commons/Ballk MSC)

JAKARTA - Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday Russia had not ruled out further high-level meetings with the United States on "strategic stability".

He said that when the two countries will hold a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss nuclear proliferation.

"If America shows interest and readiness, we will not refuse", Ryabkov said.

Strategic stability is a term used by Russia and the United States, the world's two largest nuclear powers, to mean reducing the risk of nuclear war.

Russian and US officials are expected to meet soon in the Egyptian capital Cairo from November 29 to December 6, to discuss the nuclear arms reduction treaty or New START.

However, Ryabkov had previously indicated there was nothing to talk about with the US on the Ukraine issue.

"No, there is nothing to discuss with them in Ukraine. There can be no dialogue, much fewer negotiations, given the position of the radical opposition", he was quoted as saying by Interfax earlier.

As previously reported, the director of Russia's foreign intelligence (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin, and the Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns met in Ankara, Turkey earlier this week, to discuss the consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, to the issue of US prisoners in Russia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes Russia and the United States will not use nuclear weapons, as he reveals the talks by the intelligence chiefs of the two countries at the headquarters of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in Ankara on November 14.

"According to information received from the (Turkish) intelligence chief, Russia and the United States discussed not using nuclear weapons", President Erdogan said upon his return from the G20 summit in Bali, TASS reported.

"The parties are currently showing no signs they will try to use it. We would like to see them meet more often, and we are ready to promote this."