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A number of useful public statements both from @USArmsControl Billingslea and @mfa_russia Ryabkov to prepare the ground Vienna event released, so let's make a thread!
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For @NAR Billigslea was pretty clear that curently the US beign open to sort things out with Russia and thus prepare a framework for Chinese involvement: https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/US-open-to-nuclear-agreement-with-Russia-before-including-China
And #NewSTART can be extended!:)
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And #NewSTART can be extended!:)
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This one is even better: https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/US-considers-midrange-missile-deployment-in-Asia-to-counter-China:
B. pointed to a midrange, non-nuclear, ground-launched cruise missile under development..this weapon is "exactly the kind of defensive capability that countries such as Japan will want and will need for the future"
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B. pointed to a midrange, non-nuclear, ground-launched cruise missile under development..this weapon is "exactly the kind of defensive capability that countries such as Japan will want and will need for the future"
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See, he never posts photos w/o greater purpose.https://twitter.com/KomissarWhipla/status/1294310415262941184?s=20
сс @nktpnd
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Some #hyperhype: Hypersonic weapons "are very stabilizing defensive capabilities which, in the Asia-Pacific region, will ensure that our allies and our friends and our partners are protected and that China cannot engage in military blackmail"
(Kinzhal and DF-17 to Venezuela?)
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(Kinzhal and DF-17 to Venezuela?)
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Now to Ryabkov: https://tass.ru/politika/9211547
- No breakthroughs expected, everyone should be cautious about claiming progress towards new agreements
- The dialogue itself is rather deep in some domains, which is good
- No 'material' changes in the US attitude to New START extention
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- No breakthroughs expected, everyone should be cautious about claiming progress towards new agreements
- The dialogue itself is rather deep in some domains, which is good
- No 'material' changes in the US attitude to New START extention
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- arms control system is in deep crisis, rescue efforts must be undertaken
- there is a special responsibility if Russia and the US, even if we have conflicting views in other domains, political will should be demonstrated here, with New START extension as a first step
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- there is a special responsibility if Russia and the US, even if we have conflicting views in other domains, political will should be demonstrated here, with New START extension as a first step
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- China won't be present in Vienna...
-...but future strategic stability dialogue should include other countries, their capabilities must be considered, and they should be involved as this domain is a shared responsibility
- it should be a sovereign decision of each country
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-...but future strategic stability dialogue should include other countries, their capabilities must be considered, and they should be involved as this domain is a shared responsibility
- it should be a sovereign decision of each country
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Russian priority is to include France and the UK, as those are US allies.
"We are not ashamed to repeat these approaches, because this is a requirement of the time and reality. We see no reason to reject or revise them."
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"We are not ashamed to repeat these approaches, because this is a requirement of the time and reality. We see no reason to reject or revise them."
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More Ryabkov via @ElenaChernenko: https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4457539
- Level of Russian delegation corresponds to the US one, military people included
- Space won't be a major topic
- Our ideas are shared with the US, US ideas are being seriously examined
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- Level of Russian delegation corresponds to the US one, military people included
- Space won't be a major topic
- Our ideas are shared with the US, US ideas are being seriously examined
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- alleged US 'change' in approach (Russia first, China afterwards) has been noticed, it is logical to go bilateral at the moment
- still, France and the UK are Russian priorities, and anyway it should be a 'soverign decision'™
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- still, France and the UK are Russian priorities, and anyway it should be a 'soverign decision'™
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- crucial to make the US partners understand the necessity to consider all factors affecting strategic stability.
- can't focus only on warheads or transparency, need to address delivery vehicles, link between strategic offensive and defensive capabilities, future US systems
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- can't focus only on warheads or transparency, need to address delivery vehicles, link between strategic offensive and defensive capabilities, future US systems
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