The dome of the US Capitol in Washington. File photoWASHINGTON, Jun 2 The US does not rule out using anti-Russian sanctions as a bargaining tool to promote nonproliferation dialogue, says Assistant Secretary of State Mallory Stewart.
"I think there are different reasons, but if there is a possibility that sanctions will help us to have a good-faith dialogue, it would be a useful application of them", she said at a conference in Washington.
According to her, this effect has already been achieved in the relations of other countries START III, the only U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control regime, has been extended by the administration of President Joe Biden for five years, expiring in 2026. The United States is interested in maintaining treaty limits on Russian nuclear arsenals beyond 2026 and intends to push for limits on «new types» of weapons, including tactical ones, Stuurt said on Thursday. Russia and the United States began agreeing on the parameters of a future agreement, but interrupted the dialogue after the start of a special operation in Ukraine. Washington is ready to consider a new round of strategic dialogue with Moscow, but wants «evidence of its good faith approach,» a State Department spokeswoman said. dialogue with the United States on strategic stability will end at START-3