In Vienna on Sunday launched the Russian-American talks aimed at, among other things, to clarify the fate of the Treaty on strategic offensive arms. From the public statements of American officials is difficult to understand, they want to renew it or not. While recently in Washington insisted on mandatory connecting Beijing to the negotiations, now seems willing to negotiate and almost waiting for President Vladimir Putin at the signing ceremony. The head of the Russian delegation in Vienna Deputy foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in an interview with “Kommersant” expressed the hope that behind closed doors the Americans clarify their stance.Prior to the expiration of the Russian-American Treaty on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms (start I) remains less than six months, and Washington still has not responded to Moscow’s proposal to extend it for another five years. In recent weeks, many observers had the feeling that the US is still inclined to extend this key bilateral relations and global security of the document.Until the end of July, American negotiators put forward Russia, all the new terms. First of all she was required to persuade China to connect to the regime of arms control. In addition, Washington insisted that Moscow has agreed to supply under the control of weapons not covered by the current start Treaty, including its tactical nuclear arsenals, and would give the nod to additional measures of verification.However, in late July, the President of the United States Donald trump made a statement which indicated that he was no longer insisting that negotiations on arms control now joined by China, and wants to first negotiate with Russia (see “Kommersant” on 31 July). On Sunday a few hours before the start of bilateral consultations in Vienna published an interview of the head of the American delegation of the special envoy of the U.S. President for arms control Marshall Billingsley Japanese newspaper “nikkey”, which sounded the same thesis. When the delegation arrived in Vienna, the American channel NBC, citing sources reported that Donald trump would like to scheduled for November presidential elections in the United States to meet with President Vladimir Putin to sign some Declaration about progress in the negotiations on the renewal of the start Treaty.Not clarified the situation and the Advisor to the us President for national security Robert O’brien, who later said in an interview with the same channel, before the election, such meetings can not be, but then President Putin really want to take in the United States. “We will not have a summit with Vladimir Putin before the election. But we would like to at some point arrived Putin, I hope to sign a great agreement on arms control, which will ensure the safety of Americans and Russians,” he said. From the comments of the U.S. official is difficult to understand whether he spoke about renewing the start Treaty or some other agreement. According to Robert O’brien, the future of bilateral arrangements “depends on the Russian.” “They should decide how they will act further in this direction. We would like to have an agreement on arms control with Russia,”— completely confused all the assistant of Donald trump.Three sources in the government of the Russian Federation yesterday evening assured “Kommersant” that at the moment there is no preparation for the Russian-American summit is not conducted — no period until November, or after.“Kommersant” has asked for official comments of the head of the Russian delegation in Vienna Deputy foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. He said that Moscow drew attention to recent statements by us officials on the issue of the start Treaty. But, apparently, Russian diplomats also not entirely sure how to read the signals from our American colleagues. “More specifically, any inferences or conclusions can be made only after the event (in Vienna, which will end on 18 August.— “Kommersant”)”,— said “Kommersant” Sergei Ryabkov. We can only hope that behind closed doors the representatives of Russia and the U.S. understand each other.Elena Chernenko
