Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman mentioned U.S. President Joe Biden’s derogatory feedback about Russia’s economic system have been “inherently incorrect” as senior diplomats from each international locations met Wednesday in Geneva for talks.
On Tuesday, Biden spoke to members of the U.S. intelligence group, saying that Russia’s economic system has “nuclear weapons and oil wells and nothing else.”
“He is aware of he is in actual hassle, which makes him much more harmful, in my opinion,” Biden mentioned, referring to Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Biden’s feedback on Wednesday, saying they have been primarily based on “inaccurate information and understanding of recent Russia.” Peskov additionally famous that Biden was chatting with the U.S. intelligence group and that “such rousing statements are in demand from this viewers.”
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The U.S. and Russian senior diplomats held what the State Division described as “substantive {and professional}” talks on arms management and different strategic points on Wednesday regardless of myriad different variations which have despatched relations right into a tailspin.
The State Division mentioned the discussions in Geneva produced no breakthroughs however mentioned they did yield the minimal for a optimistic results of such negotiations: an settlement to fulfill once more within the context of talks endorsed by Biden and Putin.
“We stay dedicated, even in instances of pressure, to making sure predictability and decreasing the chance of armed battle and menace of nuclear conflict,” the division mentioned in an announcement. The 2 presidents had agreed to renew strategic talks once they met in Geneva final month.
“At present’s assembly in Geneva was the start of this dialogue with the Russian Federation,” it mentioned. “The U.S. delegation mentioned U.S. coverage priorities and the present safety surroundings, nationwide perceptions of threats to strategic stability, prospects for brand spanking new nuclear arms management, and the format for future Strategic Stability Dialogue periods.”
The 2 sides have been represented by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Russian Deputy International Minister Sergey Ryabkov. State Division spokesman Ned Worth mentioned that they had agreed to carry one other high-level spherical of talks in late September. The U.S. group will journey to Brussels on Thursday to temporary NATO allies on the talks, he mentioned.
The important thing points at stake within the strategic talks have taken on new significance because the Trump administration withdrew from two treaties with Russia and had been ready to permit a 3rd—New START—to lapse earlier than Biden took workplace and determined to increase it.
One hurdle within the talks is Russia’s demand that the U.S. cease resisting limits on its missile defenses, which the Russians view as a long-term menace and the Individuals see as a deterrent to conflict.
The missile protection dispute has shot down previous efforts to broaden the scope of arms management negotiations to incorporate greater than the standard class of “strategic,” or long-range, nuclear missiles. Now it’s amongst a number of disagreements—magnified by mutual mistrust—prone to decide whether or not the world’s two largest nuclear powers can keep away from a brand new arms race.
At stake are what Biden has known as “new and harmful and complex weapons which are approaching the scene now that scale back the instances of response, that elevate the prospects of unintended conflict.”
The Russians have lengthy insisted there could be no strategic stability with out limits on defensive in addition to offensive weapons. Russia left little question that it’s going to insist that missile protection be a part of a future arms management association.
For its half, the Biden administration needs Moscow to comply with restrict its so-called non-strategic nuclear weapons, which aren’t coated by New START. Some arms management specialists assume this presents the opportunity of a tradeoff—negotiations overlaying missile defenses in addition to non-strategic weapons.
The U.S., since Donald Trump was president, has additionally insisted that China be a part of any new arms management preparations. Russia has mentioned that’s as much as the Chinese language, who’ve to this point rejected all entreaties to contemplate the concept.