MOSCOW (Dispatches) - Reaching arms control agreements with the U.S. requires lengthy and thorough preparation, so results cannot be expected quickly, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news briefing while commenting on Washington’s declared wish to reach an agreement in this area.
“This is such a complex matter that it requires very lengthy, meticulous, and expert-level negotiations. Therefore, in any case, it will be a process that takes a long time,” Peskov noted.
The most recent agreement on strategic stability - the Russian-American New START Treaty - expired in February, with Washington allowing it to lapse. The U.S. insisted that a new agreement would be needed in the future, one that would also include China.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for trilateral talks involving Russia, China, and the U.S. on this issue. China, however, maintains that its nuclear arsenal is not large enough to warrant any discussion regarding its size.
Moscow has pointed out that any new agreement would require further negotiation and consensus-building, and would need to account not only for Russian and American arsenals but also for the nuclear weapons held by U.S. allies in Europe - the UK and France. Regarding China’s participation, Russia takes the view that this is a matter for Beijing to decide and respects whatever decision the Chinese side makes.
The Kremlin  also said that Ukraine was paying the price for its own attacks on Russia in recent months and would continue to do so as Moscow’s forces systematically strike different targets there.
On Friday, Putin said Moscow had been ready to resume negotiations with Kyiv after September’s parliamentary election in Russia, but complained about Ukraine launching a big attack on Moscow during the vote, about what he said was its targeting if polling stations, and about its drone attack on St Petersburg during a major economic forum there in June.
Responding to a question about how those Ukrainian strikes had affected Moscow’s stance on peace negotiations, Peskov said: “Ukraine will have to pay a price for the actions that have taken place in recent months. This is what is happening now. Our armed forces are continuing the special military operation.”
At least one person was killed when a drone hit the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv on Monday, as Russia pounded the center of the Ukrainian capital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a total of 19 people had been injured, six of whom were being treated in hospital. Sirens echoed through the streets as black smoke billowed into the sky.
A pharmaceutical company, petrol stations and a medical facility were also hit in Kyiv on Monday, Zelenskiy said, while in other cities and regions, civilian facilities, businesses and communications infrastructure were targeted.