Lavrov: Positive cooperation between Russia and the US will not work on the basis of ultimatums
After the suspension of the agreement with the United States on plutonium disposition, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov stated that the United States will not be able to cooperate with Russia on the basis of ultimatums.
“The decisions we have taken will not work. The signal from Washington [is that they are] trying to talk with Russia from a position of strength, using language of sanctions and ultimatums and at the same time continuing the selected cooperation with our country only in fields beneficial for USA,” the Russian minister of foreign affairs stressed.
“If Washington adjusts its policy and addresses all circumstances occurring through its fault which led to negative changes to the political, military and economic balance in the world, we will be ready to resume the implementation of the agreement,” he added.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia is not abandoning its commitments in the field of nuclear disarmament, including reducing the number of nuclear materials involved in nuclear programs. According to him, Russian plutonium designated ‘no longer required for defense purposes’ will remain outside military activities.
Yesterday, the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, submitted the draft law to the State Duma, according to which Russia will resume the agreement with the United States regarding plutonium disposition if Washington fulfills a number of conditions. Putin may resume the agreement if the United States repeals the Magnitsky Act, lifts the sanctions against Russia and compensates losses caused by these sanctions, including “losses caused by the introduction of counter-sanctions against the United States.” Moreover, the resumption of the agreement about plutonium disposition presupposes the “reduction of military infrastructure and the number of US troops deployed in the UN member-countries.”