TASS:
GENEVA, January 15. /TASS/. Inter-departmental consultations between Russia and the United States on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty have started in Geneva, TASS reports from the scene.
The Russian delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov while the US delegation is headed by Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea L. Thompson. This will be their first encounter since Thompson’s appointment. The consultations will be held behind closed doors.
As Ryabkov told journalists on Monday, Russia is ready for serious work with the United States at the upcoming consultations and urges Washington to give up advancing any ultimatums and preconditions.
The current round of consultations is being held amid plans announced by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the INF Treaty. Also, US Secretary of State Pompeo announced on December 4 that the US would stop adhering to the treaty unless Russia returned to compliance with it within 60 days. Therefore, in early February, Washington may start the countdown of its withdrawal from the treaty.
