MOSCOW (AP) 鈥 Russia鈥檚 top diplomat dismissed the United States proposal to resume a dialogue on nuclear arms control, saying Thursday that it鈥檚 impossible while Washington offers military support to Ukraine.
Speaking at an annual news conference, Sergey Lavrov accused the West of fueling global security risks by encouraging Ukraine to ramp up strikes on the Russian territory and warned that Moscow will achieve its goals in the conflict regardless of Western support for Kyiv.
Commenting on a U.S. proposal to resume contacts in the sphere of nuclear arms control, Lavrov said that Moscow has rejected the offer. He said that for such talks to be held, Washington first needs to revise its current policy toward Russia.
Lavrov charged that Washington鈥檚 push for the revival of nuclear talks has been driven by a desire to resume inspections of Russia鈥檚 nuclear weapons sites. He described such U.S. demands as 鈥渋ndecent鈥 in view of Ukraine鈥檚 attacks on Russian nuclear-capable bomber bases during the conflict.
鈥淎mid a 鈥榟ybrid war鈥 waged by Washington against Russia, we aren鈥檛 seeing any basis, not only for any additional joint measures in the sphere of arms control and reduction of strategic risks, but for any discussion of strategic stability issues with the U.S.,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e firmly link such possibility to the West fully renouncing its malicious course aimed at undermining Russia鈥檚 security and interests.鈥
The minister said Washington鈥檚 push for restarting nuclear arms talks is rooted in a desire to 鈥渢ry to establish control over our nuclear arsenal and minimize nuclear risks for itself,鈥 but added that 鈥渢hose risks are emerging as a result of forceful pressure on our country.鈥
He accused the West of blocking any talks on ending the conflict and inciting the ramping up of attacks on Russia.
鈥淪uch encouragement and the transfer of relevant weapons shows that the West doesn鈥檛 want any constructive solution,鈥 Lavrov said. 鈥淭he West is pushing toward the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, and that raises new strategic risks.鈥
He reaffirmed that Russia will pursue what it calls the 鈥渟pecial military operation鈥 regardless of Western pressure.
鈥淲e will consistently and persistently press the goals of the special military operation and we will achieve them,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey should have no hope that Russia could be defeated in any way. Those in the West who fantasize about it have failed to learn history lessons."
