JAKARTA - The United States and Russia are expected to meet soon and discuss the continuation of inspections under a New START nuclear weapons reduction agreement that has been halted since before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a daily press conference, Price said the bilateral consulate commission (BCC), the mechanism for implementing the last remaining arms control agreement between the world's two largest nuclear powers, would meet in the near future.
Russia in August suspended cooperation with inspections under the agreement, blaming travel restrictions imposed by Washington and its allies for the Moscow invasion of Ukraine in February, but said it was still committed to complying with the terms of the agreement.
"We have made it clear to Russia that the actions imposed as a result of Russia's without reason against Ukraine do not prevent Russian inspectors from carrying out inspections of the New START Treaty Agreement in the United States. So we hope the BCC meeting will allow us to continue with the inspection," Price said. November 9.
START Baru, which took effect in 2011, limited the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia could deploy, deployment of ground-based missiles and bombers and submarines to deliver.
The BCC, which is meant to meet twice a year, last met in October 2021, shortly before Russia began moving troops to its border with Ukraine.
Price said Washington expected a "constructive session," but had not yet determined the date or location of the meeting.
A person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said the BCC meeting was expected to be held in Cairo, Egypt.
"We are realistic about what dialogue can be done between the United States and Russia and what it can achieve," Price explained.
"We have focused on reducing the risk in this conversation, but we are very deliberately ensuring that the ability of our two countries to deliver messages back and forth and to engage in dialogue does not stop developing," he explained.
Meanwhile, Russian newspaper Kommersant said earlier on Tuesday, continued talks could take place in the Middle East, adding Moscow no longer sees Switzerland, a traditional place, as neutral enough after imposing sanctions on Russia on Ukraine.
Separately, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has been involved in secret talks with senior Russian officials, aiming to lower the risk of a broader war over Ukraine, sources familiar with the conversation said on Monday.
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