US, Russia Agree To Re-enter Nuclear Treaty Talks

Servicemen line up by Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems of the 54th Guards Rocket Division of the 27th Guards Missile Army of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces based in Teikovo, Russia, in February this year  

Daily Mail: Russia and US in discussion to resume nuclear weapon reduction talks as Moscow tones down nuke threats following talks with American officials 

* Talks between two sides on nuclear weapons treaty stalled since Ukraine war * But the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) talks may resume 

* The talks could be held in the Middle East as Moscow no longer sees Switzerland, the traditional venue, as sufficiently neutral after it imposed sanctions on Russia

Russia and the US are discussing resuming their nuclear weapon reduction talks in the coming weeks. 

Talks between the two sides on strategic nuclear weapons have been non-existent since Russia invaded Ukraine on February. 

But the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) talks may resume in the next few weeks after Moscow toned down its nuclear threats following talks with American officials.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This is an easy prediction. Nothing is going to come from these talks. There is no longer any trust between the two sides. 

US, Russia Agree To Re-enter Nuclear Treaty Talks  

Russia and US to Resume Nuclear Talks as Ukraine War Rages On -- Bloomberg  

US and Russia agree to hold talks on nuclear treaty for first time since Ukraine war began -- CNN 

Russia and US to resume talks over nuclear weapons inspections -- The Hill  

Russia, U.S. Eye Nuclear Arms Reduction Talks in Coming Weeks – Kommersant -- Moscow Times

 US, Russia Agree To Re-enter Nuclear Treaty Talks For 1st Time Since Ukraine Invasion -- Zero Hedge

US-Russia Nuclear Disarmament Talks To Begin On Monday

National flags of Russia and the U.S. fly at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia April 11, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The Guardian: US-Russia nuclear disarmament talks to begin, but no sign of China joining in

Uncertainty surrounds talks slated to begin in Vienna on Monday, with US desperate to get China to the table.

The US and Russia will restart talks about their nuclear arsenals on Monday after a break of more than a year and uncertainty over whether Donald Trump is interested in salvaging arms control in the last four months before elections.

Trump’s new US arms control envoy, Marshall Billingslea will lead a delegation to meet the Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov in Vienna, and has also asked for Beijing to send a representative.

“The United States has extended an open invitation to the People’s Republic of China to join these discussions, and has made clear the need for all three countries to pursue arms control negotiations in good faith,” the state department said.

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WNU Editor: China is not there.

China Will Not Join Arms-Control Talks With U.S., Russia

RFE: China Again Declines To Join Arms-Control Talks With U.S., Russia

China has reiterated its refusal to participate in three-way disarmament talks with the United States and Russia ahead of a new round of arms-control talks between Washington and Moscow scheduled for June 22 in Vienna.

The United States had voiced hopes that Russia could convince China to join the negotiations about limiting the three countries' nuclear weapons stockpiles.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on June 10 that Beijing hadn't changed its previous stance that it was not going to join the talks.

"We noticed that the United States has been dragging China into the issue...whenever it is raised," with the intention of deflecting from its responsibility, Hua said.

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Update: China to skip US-Russian nuclear disarmament talks (DW)

WNU Editor: Cannot say that I am surprised.

US And Russia To Start Nuclear Arms Negotiations Later This Month. China Invited

Today agreed with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov on time and place for nuclear arms negotiations in June. China also invited. Will China show and negotiate in good faith?

— Ambassador Marshall S. Billingslea (@USArmsControl) June 8, 2020

CNN: US and Russia to meet for nuclear arms negotiations this month

US and Russian officials will meet later this month for nuclear arms negotiations, a top US arms control official announced Monday.

Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea said that he and his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, have agreed "on time and place for nuclear arms negotiations in June."

The Trump administration has abandoned a number of key arms control pacts, most recently the Open Skies Treaty, in favor of seeking a three-party agreement with Russia and China. The insistence on a trilateral agreement is widely seen as a way to scuttle New START, the nuclear reduction treaty between the US and Russia that is set to expire in February 2021. Beijing has dismissed calls to participate in trilateral talks.

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WNU Editor: China is not going to show up .... China invited to nuclear talks with Russia and US, says Donald Trump’s arms control envoy (SCMP).

More News On The US And Russia Agreeing To Start Nuclear Arms Negotiations Later This Month

US, Russia to start nuclear arms control talks this month -- CTV/AP
U.S., Russia agree on June nuclear arms talks, invite China: U.S. envoy -- Reuters
Trump Envoy: U.S., Russia To Hold Nuclear Arms Talks In June, China Invited -- RFE
US, Russia to begin nuclear arms talks this month -- The Hill

Early U.S.-Russia Nuclear Talks Have Begun

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. © Reuters / Pavel Golovkin / Pool

Defense News: New nuclear talks begin between US, Russia

WASHINGTON ― Early U.S.-Russia talks on a new nuclear arms control agreement have begun, and the two sides have agreed to an in-person dialogue once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, according to a top U.S. State Department official.

Arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea announced Thursday he is in nascent talks with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The news comes a month after Moscow signaled readiness to include some of its latest nuclear weapons in the last remaining arms control pact between the two countries, if the U.S. agrees to extend the treaty.

“We have concrete ideas for our next interaction, and we’re finalizing the details as we speak," Billingslea said of himself and Ryabkov. "We’ve settled on a venue. And we’re working on an agenda based on the exchange of views that has taken place in our call.”

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WNU Editor: Nothing is going to happen this year when it comes to nuclear talks. The pandemic and the U.S. Presidential election will guarantee that.

U.S. - Russia Nuclear Talks Facing Collapse

An Iskander-K system thought to be capable of launching the 9M729, which Washington claims violates the INF Treaty. © Vitaliy Timkov

VOA: Russia, US: No Progress in Talks Over 1987 Nuclear Arms Treaty

Russia and the United States said Tuesday there was no progress in talks over Washington's intention to withdraw from a 1987 nuclear arms treaty because it says Moscow is violating its terms.

"On the whole, we are forced to state that there is no progress. The U.S. position is frozen in its uncompromising and peremptory demands," state news agency Tass quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying after talks with U.S. Under Secretary of State Andrea Thompson in Geneva.

The U.S. side described the meeting as "disappointing."

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WNU Editor: The American position is that Russia has violated the terms of the agreement .... Russia in 'material breach' of key nuclear treaty: US (AFP). The Russian position is that the U.S. has violated the terms of the agreement .... Russia Claims US Violating Treaty Over 'Unverified' B-52 Bombers, Missiles (DOD Buzz). All that I can say is that at least both sides are still talking .... Russia, US start consultations in Geneva on INF Treaty (TASS)

More News On U.S. - Russia Nuclear Talks

Nuclear arms treaty faces collapse after failed US-Russia talks -- AFP
US & Russia trade blame on INF as last-ditch talks to save nuclear treaty fail in Geneva -- RT
Russia In 'Material Breach' Of Key Nuclear Treaty, U.S. Says -- RFE
US demands Russia destroy missile system to save nuclear pact — Moscow -- Financial Times
Russia ready to work with U.S. to save INF arms treaty: Lavrov -- Reuters
Russia says US ignored offer to inspect controversial weapon -- ABC News/AP
Russia ready for serious conversation with US on entire strategic agenda — Putin -- TASS

US And Russia Trade Jabs On Nuclear Arms Use At The Munich Security Conference

Image source: MSC / Mueller

Defense News: Escalate to de-escalate? US and Russia trade jabs on nuclear arms use

MUNICH — If anyone had any doubt left, a panel discussion today at the Munich Security Conference showcased with brutal clarity that the United States and Russia have very little common ground for a rapprochement on nuclear weapons — or much else, for that matter.

Seated on a podium here at the stately Bayerischer Hof hotel, John Sullivan, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, found himself treading familiar waters with Sergey Kislyak, the former Russian ambassador in Washington and now first deputy chairman of the committee on foreign affairs in the parliament’s upper chamber.

At issue were the morbid intricacies of the circumstances under which each country would unleash atomic arms on the other. Specifically, exactly how close to the brink of destruction by way of a conventional attack must one country be before it would shoot back with nukes.

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WNU Editor: As this discussion revealed .... there is presently no common ground between Russia and the U.S. on nuclear issues. The panel discussion where these issues were brought up can be viewed here .... Panel Discussion "Nuclear Security: Out of (Arms) Control?" (Munich Security Conference).

Russia Warns The U.S. Over Possible Cruise, Ballistic Missile Deployments In Europe and Asia

Photo: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty (INF) Treaty aims to eliminate ballistic and cruise missiles of intermediate ranges. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons)

AFP: Russia threatens 'consequences' if US deploys missiles in Europe

Moscow (AFP) - Russia on Thursday warned the United States of consequences if it moves to deploy land-based missiles in Europe in contravention of a key Cold-War era arms control treaty.

"It is clear that such actions would mean complete destruction by the American side of the regime of the treaty with all its attendant consequences," the Russian foreign ministry said, referring to the 1987 INF treaty on intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles.

"We urge the United States to ensure the full implementation of the INF, (and) not to threaten the feasibility of this document," the ministry said in a statement.

WNU Editor:NO one is listening to each other right now .... but if the U.S. proceeds with this deployment .... expect a return to a nuclear arms race.

Previous Post: US Defense Secretary: U.S. May Deploy Medium-Range Missiles To Europe To Counter Alleged Nuclear Treaty Violations By Russia

More News On Russia Warning The U.S. Over Possible Cruise, Ballistic Missile Deployments in Europe and Asia

Russia Warns U.S. Over Missile Deployment Near Its Borders -- Radio Free Europe
Russian Warns U.S. over Possible Cruise, Ballistic Missile Deployment in Europe and Asia -- HNGN
US Missiles in Europe Will Render 1987 INF Treaty Null and Void – Moscow -- Sputnik
Russia rejects US accusations of nuclear treaty breach -- AP
US accuses Russia of missile violations to cover Europe deployment plans – Moscow -- RT
Russia Has Serious Complaints on US Observance of INF Treaty -- Sputnik

U.S. Considering Range Of Options To Russia's Nuclear Treaty Violations

RS-24 Yars ballistic missiles. © Photo Defense Ministry press service

Josh Rogin, Bloomberg: U.S. Weighing Punishments for Russia’s Nuclear Violations

The Obama administration is considering a range of options to respond to Russia’s ongoing violation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty. Part of the response could involve deploying new U.S. weapons to Eastern Europe.

Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld, the outgoing vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told an audience Tuesday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that Russia continues to violate the 1987 agreement, which banned both the U.S. and Russia from developing or deploying nuclear weapons with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The treaty was the first nuclear arms agreement to reduce the number of nuclear weapons.

The administration is currently debating both defensive and offensive responses, Winnefeld said, while top officials continue pushing the Russians to get back into compliance. Secretary of State John Kerry raised the issue with Russian leadership “very recently,” Winnefeld added.

Previous Post: Is Russia Violating The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty With The U.S.

WNU Editor: The U.S. is in a poor position to negotiate a way out of this problem. The Obama administration's decision to unilaterally cancel the missile defense program in eastern Europe took away the one lever that they had to bring Moscow to the negotiating table. Now .... the White House has only two options available .... do nothing, or spend money on deploying new U.S> weapons to Europe.

US Says Russia Has Violated The 1987 Nuclear Missile Treaty By Testing Cruise Missiles

Russian cruise missiles. Source: Supplied

U.S. Says Russia Tested Cruise Missile, Violating Treaty -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The United States has concluded that Russia violated a landmark arms control treaty by testing a prohibited ground-launched cruise missile, according to senior American officials, a finding that was conveyed by President Obama to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in a letter on Monday.

It is the most serious allegation of an arms control treaty violation that the Obama administration has leveled against Russia and adds another dispute to a relationship already burdened by tensions over the Kremlin’s support for separatists in Ukraine and its decision to grant asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor.

At the heart of the issue is the 1987 treaty that bans American and Russian ground-launched ballistic or cruise missiles capable of flying 300 to 3,400 miles. That accord, which was signed by President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, helped seal the end of the Cold War and has been regarded as a cornerstone of American-Russian arms control efforts.

Read more ....

More News On The US Accusing Russia Of Violating The 1987 Nuclear Missile Treaty

U.S. says Russia violated nuclear treaty, urges immediate talks -- Reuters
U.S.: Russia violated 1987 treaty by testing ground-launched missiles -- Washington Post
U.S. says Russia violated 1987 nuclear missile treaty -- CBS/AP
U.S.: Russia violated missile treaty -- CNN
Russia ‘violated arms control treaty’, by testing cruise missile; US -- The Australian/AFP
US says Russia breached nuclear treaty -- The Guardian
Russia Accused Of Violating 1987 Missile Treaty By Testing New Cruise Missile -- IBTimes
U.S. to Accuse Russia of Breaking Landmark Nuclear Treaty -- NBC
US says Russia violated nuclear treaty -- Al Jazeera
US accuses Russia of violating 1987 missile treaty -- FOX News
U.S. Says Russia Violated Nuclear Missile Treaty -- Slate
U.S. Said to Find Russia Violated Nuclear Arms Treaty -- Bloomberg
Russia in violation of 1987 missile treaty, White House says -- Washington Times
Amid Threat of New Sanctions, U.S. Says Russia is Flouting Key Arms Treaty -- Time

Update: Moscow has already issued a response to these U.S. accusations .... and it reads like a typical "Soviet press release" from a era in time that I thought was over a long time ago .... Russia-US Arms Reduction Treaty Should Not Depend on Political Situation - Diplomat -- RIA Novosti

Did Russia Violate The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty?

RS-24 Yars ballistic missiles. © Photo Defense Ministry press service

U.S. Knew Russia Violated Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty -- Josh Rogin, The Daily Beast

The Kremlin cheated on a nuclear pact it signed with the United States, the U.S. government believes—and Secretary Kerry was briefed on the violations almost a year ago.

Congressional leaders are acting to force the Obama administration to confront Russia on its violations of a nuclear treaty that U.S. officials have acknowledged since 2012.

On November 27 of that year, two top Obama administration officials held a closed-door hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Sen. John Kerry, who only months later would become President Obama’s secretary of state. Inside the top-secret hearing, acting Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs Madelyn Creedon told lawmakers that Russia had violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), according to two U.S. officials who attended the classified meeting.

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Update #1: U.S.: Russia Repeatedly Cheating on Nuclear Missile Treaty -- Global Security Newswire/Defense One
Update #2: US Knew Russia Violated Nuclear Treaty – Report -- RIA Novosti

My Comment: This is old news .... we covered this story 5 months ago .... and yes .... the Russians are violating this agreement. But in this White House the priority is to have a new deal with the Russians on nuclear weapons .... and ignore the fact that the last deal was broken/ignored by them.

Is Russia Violating The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty With The U.S.

RS-24 Yars ballistic missiles. © Photo Defense Ministry press service

Treaty Cheating -- Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

Russia said to be violating 1987 missile accord.

Russia is engaged in a major violation of the terms of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the United States by building a new medium-range missile banned under the accord, according to U.S. intelligence officials.

Disclosure of the treaty violation comes as President Barack Obama last week called for a new round of arms negotiations with Moscow aimed at cutting deployed nuclear warheads by one-third.

Intelligence officials said internal assessments identified Russia’s new Yars M missile that was tested earlier this month as an INF missile with a range of less than 5,500 kilometers.

“The intelligence community believes it’s an intermediate-range missile that [the Russians] have classified as an ICBM because it would violate the INF treaty” if its true characteristics were known, said one official.

However, Russia is denying its new Yars M missile represents an INF violation.

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My Comment: Russia is presently undergoing a massive modernization program to update it's military to 21rst century standards. Nuclear missile systems are an integral part of this modernization .... and they have made it very clear that they are not going to bend on an issue that they see is essential to their long term security .... a modernization program that includes these specific missile systems. As to what is my take .... Russian authorities have refused to disclose the basic technical specifications for these systems .... a development that is raising even more doubts.

Update: Putin's Cheatin' Heart: Russia Snubs '87 Missile Pact -- IBD Editorial

Russia Reacts 'Coolly' To President Obama's Nuclear Reduction Proposals

US President Barack Obama announced to a crowd in Berlin that he is set to propose slashing the US nuclear arsenal by up to 1,000 warheads, below the level already targeted under a treaty signed by the United States and Russia in April 2010. (Air Force)

Russia Signals Nuclear Arms Cuts Will Not Come Easy -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russia voiced concern on Wednesday about U.S. missile defenses and high-precision conventional weapons, signaling that nuclear arms cuts proposed by President Barack Obama are likely to face formidable obstacles.

In a speech in Berlin, Obama said he wanted to reduce the strategic nuclear weapons the United States deploys by a third and would seek to negotiate cuts with Russia. The former Cold War foes possess the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's concerns about the anti-missile shields the United States and NATO are deploying, and said the development of high-precision non-nuclear weapons could upset the strategic balance.

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More News On Russian Reaction To President Obama's Call For Further Nuclear Reductions

Russia reacts coolly to Obama's nuclear proposals -- L.A. Times
Russia says U.S. missile defense a big barrier to nuclear cuts -- Reuters
Russians say arms reduction will have to involve more countries -- Boston Herald/AP
Moscow cool on Obama nuclear cuts plan -- Herald Sun
How Russia views nuclear disarmament - and why it may resist -- Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: The Russians are not the only ones who are skeptical of President Obama's proposal.

Russia's Top General: Cutting Nuclear Forces Not Possible With Missile Defense

Army General Valery Gerasimov. © RIA Novosti. Vitaliy Belousov

Missile Defense Obstructs Nuclear Forces Cuts - General -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, May 23 (RIA Novosti) – The United States’ insistence on pursuing a missile defense system in Europe is standing in the way of further cuts to Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces, Russia’s top general said on Thursday at an international security conference in Moscow.

“Russia will cut its strategic attack force only when it is certain that the United States’ development of global missile defense will not undermine its nuclear deterrent potential,” Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov said at the start of the two-day Military and Political Aspects of European Security conference.

The event brings together senior defense officials from Russia, the EU, the United States and Canada, as well as independent military and political experts.

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My Comment: The Russians are assuming the worse .... even though the US missile defense system is still plagued by technical doubts.

U.S. - Russia Nuclear Talks?

Biden And Donilon Preparing For New Nuclear Discussions With Russia -- Josh Rogin, The Cable/Foreign Policy

Vice President Joe Biden will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov this weekend in Munich and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will travel to Moscow next month to try to kick-start a new round of U.S.-Russia nuclear reduction negotiations, The Cable has learned.

It was four years ago at the Munich Security Conference that Biden first spoke about the Obama administration's desire to "reset" U.S.-Russian relations after years of deterioration during the George W. Bush administration. Now, at the beginning of Obama's second term, Biden and Donilon are leading the charge to reinvigorate that reset, following a series of setbacks in the U.S.-Russia relationship that has included President Vladimir Putin accusing the United States of meddling in Russian politics, anger over a new U.S. law to sanction Russian human rights violators, and a new Russian ban on Americans adopting Russian orphans.

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My Comment: Russia is right now spending the money to modernize their nuclear forces .... I do not see them changing this policy to accommodate U.S. wishes. As for the U.S. .... U.S. nuclear forces need to be modernize, but with trillion dollar deficits I do not see that happening .... and more to the point .... I see an administration that does not want to spend that king of money and are now looking for a convenient way out. My prediction .... this White House will make an announcement this year that the U.S. will unilaterally cut back some of it's nuclear forces as well as limiting missile defense to entice the Russians to come back to the table. The Russians .... I predict .... will show up but offer nothing.

President Obama: U.S. Must Maintain Arms-Reduction Efforts With Russia

President Barack Obama thanks U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, center right, and former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia, center, for their work to help denuclearize countries after the fall of the Soviet Union at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2012. DOD photo by Erin Kirk-Cuomo

Obama Seeks Renewal Of Nuclear Arms Control Deal With Russia -- L.A. Times

He offers to renegotiate terms of the Nunn-Lugar program that helped rid the world of more than 7,500 nuclear warheads and related weaponry.

WASHINGTON — Hoping to salvage his arms control legacy, President Obama called Monday for the renewal of a major post-Cold War agreement between the United States and Russia to secure and dismantle nuclear weapons left over from the former Soviet Union.

In an appeal aimed at Moscow, Obama offered to renegotiate terms of the 20-year-old threat-reduction initiative known for its chief sponsors, former Sen. Sam Nunn and outgoing Sen. Richard G. Lugar, and use it as a template for future U.S. cooperation with Russia.

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More News On President Obama's Call To Renegotiate A Nuclear Weapons Treaty With Russia

President Obama Pushes for Nonproliferation -- White House
U.S. Must Maintain Arms-Reduction Effort With Russia -- Bloomberg
Obama urges Russia to work with U.S. to extend arms pact -- Reuters
Obama calls on Russia to update nuclear deal -- AFP
Obama Ready To Work With Moscow To 'Update' Nuclear Deal -- Radio Free Europe
Obama Calls on Russia to Renew Weapons Pact -- New York Times
Obama praises work on nuclear stockpiles but urges vigilance -- AP

My Comment: From what I am reading in Russia .... they have no desire to change the treaty.

Is Putin Showing Some Openness To New Missile Reductions

Russian President Vladimir Putin. © RIA Novosti. Alexei Nikolskiy

Putin Shows Some Openness To New Missile Reductions -- New York Times

MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin said Friday that Russia would be willing to negotiate new reductions in nuclear arms with the United States but that Washington must first change its plans for a missile defense system in Europe strongly opposed by the Kremlin.

Mr. Putin’s comments suggested, in theory, a new openness by Russia to going beyond the New Start treaty, which was signed by his predecessor, Dmitry A. Medvedev, and President Obama in April 2010 and ratified by the United States Senate later that year.

While the New Start treaty requires Russia and the United States to reduce their arsenals to 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 launchers within seven years, the countries have discussed a follow-up agreement that would cut tactical warheads and stored strategic weapons that are not covered by the existing treaty.

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My Comment: Putin is only stating what has been stated before .... no nuclear reductions unless the U.S. missile defense program is curtailed. This is no new "openness" from Putin.

State Department Arms Negotiator: Strategic Arms Agreement With Russia Possible Despite Moscow’s Opposition

Arms Control Mania -- Washington Free Beacon

State arms official: Further strategic agreement with Russia possible despite Moscow’s opposition.

OMAHA—A senior State Department arms negotiator said Thursday that Russian opposition to holding a new round of arms control talks does not mean a second strategic arms pact is out of reach.

Rose Gottemoeller, acting undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, also said that a State Department advisory board will report soon on whether U.S. nuclear forces can be cut very sharply and eventually be eliminated.

Gottemoeller said her predecessor, Ellen Tauscher, asked the State Department International Security Advisory Board to see how the United States could shift from “mutually assured destruction to mutually assured stability.”

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My Comment: Sometimes I wonder if the U.S. government reads or watches what is being said in Russia on this issue .... and (in case anyone wants to know) what has been said in Moscow is very clear .... Russia has no interest in pursuing another nuclear arms agreement with the U.S. as long as America's missile defense program exists. Of course .... the Kremlin can turn around and embarrass themselves by saying that they will now talk with the U.S. .... but I doubt it. As to acting undersecretary of state for arms control Rose Gottemoeller .... she is dreaming if she thinks that Russia will go to the table and have the discussion that she is clearly hoping that they will.

Can U.S., Russia Reduce Their Nuclear Arsenals? (Video)

President Obama Tells Russian President Medvedev That He Needs More Time On Missile Defense

President Obama Asks Medvedev For ‘Space’ On Missile Defense — ‘After My Election I Have More Flexibility’ -- ABC news

SEOUL, South Korea — At the tail end of his 90 minute meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Monday, President Obama said that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with controversial issues such as missile defense, but incoming Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to give him “space.”

The exchange was picked up by microphones ashttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif reporters were let into the room for remarks by the two leaders.

The exchange:

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More News On President Obama Asking Russian President Medvedev For More Time On Missile Defense

Obama assures Medvedev more flexibility after election -- Reuters
Obama Tells Medvedev Election Means Missile Defense Can Wait -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Microphone Picks Up Obama’s Private Exchange With Medvedev -- The Lede/New York Times
Obama asks Russia to cut him slack until reelection -- Christian Science Monitor
Obama asks Russia for 'space' on missile defence -- AFP
Obama tells Medvedev solution on missile defense is unlikely before elections -- Washington Post
Hot mic: Obama begs Russians for ‘space’ on missile defense talks -- Washington Times
Obama to Medvedev: No Missile Deal Before Election -- Wall Street Journal
Barack Obama microphone gaffe: 'I'll have more flexibility after election' -- The Telegraph

My Comment: Oh oh ....

I can see those who support the cutting back of nuclear weapons and missile defense heaving a sigh of relief that President Obama is still committed to this cause .... and I can see the other side becoming more concerned and worried that President Obama will commit himself to further cutbacks.

Yup .... this is going to be an interesting election year.

On a side note, I read somewhere that President Medvedev understood Russian .... but this is the first time that I have heard him speak it. In regards to Putin ... he can also speak English, and I heard him once when he was giving Russia's presentation to the Olympic Committee for the winter Olympics a few years back.