Russia says dialog with US on strategic stability formally ‘frozen’

Moscow says dialog between Russia and the United States on strategic stability has been formally “frozen” by Washington, as bilateral relations between the Kremlin and the White House are worryingly strained over the war in Ukraine.

Vladimir Yermakov, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s department for non-proliferation and arms control, made the remarks in an interview with TASS news agency on Saturday, saying that no prospect of such dialog could be seen at present.

“As of now, the situation indicates that there can be no talk at present about any prospects of talks with the United States on strategic stability. Unfortunately, all of Washington’s actions are taken in the diametrically opposite direction,” the senior Russian official noted.

Yermakov added that those contacts could be resumed only “after all the tasks set as part of the special military operation in Ukraine are implemented.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” against Ukraine on February 24. The ongoing conflict has provoked a unanimous response from Western countries, which have imposed a long list of sanctions on Moscow.

US President Joe Biden termed the Russian action “unprovoked and unjustified attack,” and the American media described it as the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two.

Russia, however, has time and again said that it would halt the operation instantly if Kiev met its list of demands, including never applying to join NATO.

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“In any dialogue, especially in a strategic dialogue, at least the presence of an adequate partner is required. As of now, this dialogue is formally frozen by the American side,” Yermakov stressed.

According to the high-ranking Russian diplomat, the Kremlin believes that the US intends to finalize projects to deploy medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

“The emergence of such weapons in those regions will further worsen the situation and fuel the arms race,” Yermakov further told TASS.

Earlier this week, Putin warned that if any other country intervenes in Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine and “creates unacceptable threats for us that are strategic in nature, they should know that our response... will be lightning-fast.”

The US has already delivered $2.4 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Biden’s term in office, though much of that aid has come since the onset of war in Ukraine.

Furthermore, Biden has already asked Congress for a whopping $33 billion aid package for Ukraine, including more than $20 billion in new military aid and other security assistance over the next five months to use in the regime's war with Russia.

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