Early U.S.-Russia talks on a new nuclear arms control agreement have begun, and the two sides have agreed to an in-person dialogue once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, according to a top U.S. State Department official.

Arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea announced Thursday he is in nascent talks with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The news comes a month after Moscow signaled readiness to include some of its latest nuclear weapons in the last remaining arms control pact between the two countries, if the U.S. agrees to extend the treaty.

“We have concrete ideas for our next interaction, and we’re finalizing the details as we speak,” Billingslea said of himself and Ryabkov. “We’ve settled on a venue. And we’re working on an agenda based on the exchange of views that has taken place in our call.”

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