Russia and the United States are making ready for a second spherical of high-level talks in Istanbul, set for April 10, geared toward easing long-standing tensions and addressing key factors of friction of their bilateral relationship, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Peskov stated the Russian aspect can be represented on the negotiations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “From our side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible,” he said, including, “I suggest waiting for updates from our colleagues at the Foreign Ministry.”
The upcoming discussions comply with expert-level talks held between Russian and American delegations in Istanbul on Feb. 27, throughout which the edges mentioned the normalization of diplomatic missions, guaranteeing uninterrupted operations, and enhancing working circumstances for diplomats. Russia’s Foreign Ministry later introduced that the U.S. had granted agrément for the Russian ambassador-designate to Washington.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov additionally confirmed preparations for the second spherical of talks, stating that each international locations had been working to resolve persistent “irritants” and to maneuver towards normalization of dialogue. “There has already been a meeting in Istanbul, and now preparations are underway for a second round,” Lavrov stated.
Despite progress in restoring diplomatic communication channels, Kremlin officers acknowledged that broader safety and arms management discussions stay a distant prospect. When requested about the potential for reviving the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), Peskov stated the prerequisite for such discussions is the development of general U.S.-Russia relations and the rebuilding of mutual belief.
“Strategic stability talks are hard to consider at the moment,” Peskov said. “Such discussions require a certain level of bilateral relations and established mutual trust.”
He emphasised that any future arms management negotiations should additionally account for the nuclear arsenals of different nations. “Our experts have pointed out that the current security architecture cannot be discussed in isolation from the nuclear capabilities of other countries,” Peskov famous. “These issues must be addressed in a comprehensive context.”
Peskov added that each Moscow and Washington are investing appreciable diplomatic effort in repairing the harm accomplished to their relationship, notably throughout the earlier U.S. administration.
Source: www.dailysabah.com