In a speech given at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said the Russian-US summit in Geneva, while not leading to a significant improvement of bilateral relations, has led to the decision to launch comprehensive dialogue:
“Contrary to the negative mood fueled by US media outlets in the run-up to the summit, the talks at the highest level were held in a calm, business-like and, in general, constructive environment. With all remaining contradictions, the two countries’ leaders agreed there is the need to bring closer positions and reduce confrontation in Russian-US relations.”
“We don’t cherish illusions on pivotal breakthroughs,” Antonov said, according to a statement published on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in the US.
“Over the past years, too many mutual claims and contradictions have accumulated, which cannot be resolved in a single jerk. However, there are opportunities for positive dynamics. They are opened by achieving the understanding about the advisability of restoring systemic contacts on key issues of the bilateral and international agenda,” he noted.
“The most important agreement at the summit, confirmed in a joint statement on strategic stability, was a decision to launch comprehensive dialogue. Along with extending the New START early this year, this is another step of Washington in the direction of common sense and greater responsibility in international affairs,” Antonov stressed.
He also pointed to the agreement to make every effort to prevent any armed conflict, saying that, “the confirmation of a formula developed 35 years ago on the inadmissibility of nuclear war and impossibility of a victory in it” encourages Moscow and Washington to show greater responsibility in international affairs. “We believe it is necessary to make every effort to prevent any armed conflict between our countries, which could inevitably trigger escalation up to a nuclear level.”
“We expect in the coming weeks to hold a kick-off meeting between delegations of agencies led by deputy foreign ministers. The point of departure could be a review of the current concerns in the strategic field, which both sides have.” He added, Russia believes that strategic dialogue should be aimed at developing a new “security equation” to cover all offensive and defensive nuclear and non-nuclear weapons.
“Another priority issue is fostering joint work in the cyber security field,” Antonov said. “By the way, according to US sources, most cyber attacks worldwide are carried out from electronic addresses on US soil. In 2020, 45 cyber attacks were registered against Russian facilities, 35 of which were coordinated from America.”
“I would like to note that a few days ago our presidents held a phone conversation and discussed in detail the cyber security issue,” the ambassador said. “The leaders emphasized the need for substantive and constructive cooperation in this field and continuing respective contacts. In particular, Vladimir Putin noted that Russian-US cooperation should be of permanent, professional and non-politicized nature.”
Antonov also pointed to the passing of a United Nations Security Council resolution jointly drafted by the US and Russia on Syrian aid deliveries, about which he said, “We believe that this decision will contribute to achieving political settlement in the Arab republic as soon as possible and to stabilizing the situation in the Middle East in general.”
