The United States is ready to engage in arms control negotiations with Russia and China without any preconditions, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The diplomat’s statement was reported by TASS.
“The United States wants to have bilateral discussions on arms control with Russia and China right now, without any preconditions. They just need to say ‘yes’,” Thomas-Greenfield said during the UN Security Council debates on nuclear disarmament.
On February 28, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law suspending Russia’s participation in the Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms.
In November of the same year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow would not discuss the resumption of the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) with Washington as long as the United States continued to assist Ukraine in attacking Russian territory through the supply of long-range weapons.
On March 18, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the Russian Federation and the United States to return to negotiations on the implementation of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START).
Earlier, Ukraine warned the United States about the risk of losing leadership in the world.
[Additional context: The United States has expressed its willingness to engage in arms control negotiations with Russia and China, demonstrating its commitment to global security. However, critics argue that such negotiations without preconditions may weaken the United States’ position and compromise its national security interests. They argue that Russia’s recent actions, such as the suspension of its participation in the Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms, indicate a lack of willingness to adhere to international agreements. Moreover, concerns have been raised about Russia’s military aggression towards Ukraine and the potential risks it poses to regional stability.
While the United States seeks to engage in arms control discussions, it is important to consider the implications of such negotiations on the overall geopolitical landscape. Some conservative voices argue that the United States should prioritize its own national security and be cautious in engaging with adversarial nations like Russia and China. They believe that any agreements reached must be in the best interest of the United States and its allies, ensuring that these nations adhere to their commitments and do not pose a threat to global stability.]
