State Department Considers U.S.-Russian Strategic Stability Talks ‘Professional and Substantive’

July 28, 2021 (EIRNS)—U.S. and Russian senior diplomats met in Geneva today, for the first round of strategic stability talks under the Biden Administration. The State Department characterized the consultation as “professional and substantive,” and would be followed by further informal consultations followed by another high-level meeting in September. The talks were led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

“We remain committed, even in times of tension, to ensuring predictability and reducing the risk of armed conflict and threat of nuclear war,” a State Department statement said. The two Presidents had agreed to resume strategic talks when they met in Geneva last month.

“Today’s meeting in Geneva was the beginning of this dialogue with the Russian Federation. The U.S. delegation discussed U.S. policy priorities and the current security environment, national perceptions of threats to strategic stability, prospects for new nuclear arms control, and the format for future Strategic Stability Dialogue sessions.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry remarked on the meeting in a brief statement. “In compliance with the instruction of the Presidents of the two countries, the sides comprehensively discussed their approaches towards maintaining strategic stability, the prospects of arms control and risk reduction measures,” the statement said. “They touched upon various aspects of further developing interaction on these issues.” TASS reported that Ryabkov had said he was “satisfied with the consultations and that the U.S. showed readiness for a constructive dialogue at the talks.”