Russia is ready to consider new political agreements with the US in the area of arms control and disarmament, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said.
According to the diplomat, the US is in effect unable at this point to ensure ratification of any new US-Russian arms control agreements that would reflect Moscow’s priorities.
“Is it possible to assume today that Congress will ratify US-Russian agreements that would take into account Russian priorities? I’ll answer you: no,” Antonov said in an interview with TASS.
According to the ambassador, the US executive branch understands this and is thinking about reaching some political agreements that do not require ratification by the Senate and would take effect after the expiration of the US-Russian Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, also known as New START.
“The Americans understand this, so today they are thinking about politically binding agreements for after 2026, or after the expiration of the New START, which would be in effect only for the duration of the president’s term in office,” Antonov said.
