Media: US and Russia Are Ready Talking about Nuclear Arsenals Limitation

Representatives of the United States and Russia plan to meet and discuss the American proposal to conclude a vast agreement on limiting nuclear arsenals and according to Washington one of the participants should be China, the Wall Street Journal reported with reference to US officials. The meeting between President Trump’s special representative on arms control Marshall Billingsley and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov marks the first official Trump’s administration attempt to begin negotiations on a treaty that could replace START-3, expiring next February. The meeting is likely to be held in Vienna; work on its agenda is now being completed. "We agreed that as soon as the opportunity presents itself, given the situation with the coronavirus, we will get together for negotiations," an unnamed American representative said. According to an American source, the United States will insist on a tripartite agreement with China, despite Beijing's unequivocal refusal to participate in nuclear arms limitation talks. Marshall Billingsley, according to the Wall Street Journal, informed the Russian side that the United States expects Moscow to convince Beijing of the need to join the talks. Diplomatic and economic pressure can be used as a persuasion tool. Washington also wants the object of the treaty to be all nuclear warheads, including tactical ones and those in long-term storage. START-3 Agreement can be extended for five years. Washington is ready to go for such an extension if serious tripartite negotiations with a chance to succeed begin.