WASHINGTON: Russia is ready to consider the possibility of concluding new political agreements with the United States in the field of arms control and disarmament, but prefers legally binding agreements of this kind. This was stated on August 5 by Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov. According to him, the United States is currently unable to ensure the ratification of possible new Russian-American agreements in the field of arms control that reflect Moscow's priorities...
"We have not closed the book on the matter. Work on releasing Russians from American jails continues. I can say unequivocally that, given the instructions, aspirations and intentions of our president, it is simply not possible to state the opposite," the diplomat stressed.
The envoy emphasized that the recent prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington was a "rare positive event in Russian-US relations," calling it a breakthrough. "The lesson is that even in the most difficult times it is possible to find some common ground to help resolve these most sensitive and pressing issues in bilateral relations," the Russian ambassador underscored.
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov stated Russia's readiness to consider the possibility of concluding new political agreements with the United States on arms control and disarmament.
However, he noted that at the moment Washington is actually unable to ensure the ratification of such potential agreements between Russia and the United States.
"Can we assume today that the Congress will ratify Russian-American agreements taking into account Russia's priorities? I will answer you: no," TASS quotes Antonov as saying.
The diplomat also clarified the situation with the US deliveries of F-16 fighters to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "We received an answer that if and when such aircraft are delivered to Ukraine, they will have restrictions on strikes on Russian territory," he specified.
At the same time, according to him, Crimea, Sevastopol and new Russian regions will not fall under these restrictions. The same will apply to the territory around Kharkov, the ambassador specified.
"This is a serious threat to the national security of the Russian Federation," Antonov emphasized.
In conclusion, the ambassador made it clear that Russia will also consider the option of supplying weapons to states unfriendly to the US. "If the Americans are doing this, why can't we do it?" the diplomat said.
Recent swap
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported earlier that eight Russian nationals, detained or convicted in several NATO countries, as well as two minors, had returned home following a prisoner swap conducted at Ankara’s airport. One of those swapped was Russian citizen Vadim Krasikov, who had been serving a life sentence in Germany. The Russians were exchanged for a group of individuals who acted in the interests of other countries.
According to US President Joe Biden, Russia released 16 people as part of the prisoner swap, including former US Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, convicted of espionage in Russia.
He noted the double standards of the American government, which, in turn, believes that the supply of weapons from the Russian Federation to such countries is a path to escalation and deliberate deterioration of Russian-American relations.
“We certainly cannot agree with this logic, with this reading of the situation,” Antonov concluded.
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