Russia is trying to use the potential restoration of negotiations with the US on weapons control as a tool for pressure on war against Ukraine. This is stated in the report of the Institute of War Study (ISW) of June 9.
Analysts point out that the Kremlin probably puts the restoration of Washington dialogue on strategic stability and restriction of medium and lower range missiles (RSMD), depending on the United States's willingness to make concessions on the Ukrainian issue.
Such conclusions are based on the statements of representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Kremlin. Russian Presidential President Dmitry Peskov, answering questions about the probable cancellation of the moratorium on the placement of land base missiles, said Russia "retains freedom of action". Earlier, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov stated that this unilateral moratorium was "approaching the logical conclusion".
Ryabkov also noted that to restore negotiations with the United States requires a "reliable military-political basis", which includes respect for the "fundamental interests of Russia". According to him, the US position on war in Ukraine is a key test for Washington's sincerity in the issue of normalizing relations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed a similar position, stating that Moscow is ready to return to negotiations on strategic stability only "on equal terms".
ISW analysts summarize that Russia is trying to attach participation in international security formats in Ukraine, in particular, pressing on the United States because of the threat of prohibited missiles that have previously been under the RSMD contract.
