Russia hopes to hold strategic stability consultations with US in July, says diplomat

Ryabkov

SOCHI, June 24. /TASS/: Consultations between Russia and the United States on strategic stability can take place in July, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday.

"I very much hope for that. We do not conceal that we are interested in this event to take place without delays," the senior Russian diplomat said, responding to a question about whether the first round of consultations with the United States on strategic stability could take place in July.

"The logic itself suggests this. These are complex issues and time is running out. The United States has its own internal calendar, and midterm elections will take place next year. They [the Americans] have not yet completed their analytical work on reviewing and, perhaps, somewhat re-assessing various aspects of nuclear policy. But this should not impede us from starting to discuss substantive issues, all the more so as assessments of the situation, including its crisis aspects and risks existing in this sphere need to be discussed," the high-ranking Russian diplomat explained.

Russia and the United States also need to discuss, how the sides will organize their work, he stressed.

"It would be wrong to delay the launch of this dialogue," Ryabkov said.