Permanent Representative: US ready to discuss arms control with Russia and China

The US is ready right now, without preconditions, to start discussions with Russia and China on arms control, US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

“The United States is ready to engage in bilateral arms control discussions with Russia and China right now, without preconditions. All they have to do is say ‘yes’ and sit down at the negotiating table,” the diplomat said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on the topic of strategic stability talks with the United States.

He called Washington’s statements about alleged readiness for negotiations demagogy in the run-up to the elections in the United States. The head of state reminded that the US is blocking Russia’s proposal, which has been on their table for more than 15 years – it is a draft treaty on preventing the placement of weapons in space, which Russian diplomats prepared back in 2008.