Russia, US to hold first nuclear talks since Ukraine war

Bloomberg

Russia said it will hold talks with the US from late November to early December in Cairo about inspections of atomic weapons sites under the New START treaty, a first step toward reviving broader arms-control talks suspended since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The consultations in the Egyptian capital will last about a week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Friday, according to state news service RIA Novosti.
Russia barred US inspectors from its nuclear weapons sites in August, citing visa and travel restrictions for Russians that it said made it impossible for them to reach the US.
The two countries had suspended the on-site inspections in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and were discussing how to restart them safely. The Bilateral Consultative Commission, which handles practical matters on how the New START deal is implemented, last met in Geneva in October 2021.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this week the BCC will meet in the “near future” but declined to offer details. He said the US was “realistic” about what can be achieved from negotiations with Russia but it was important to make sure the two countries retain the ability to talk to each other. Ryabkov said it’s unlikely an agreement on restarting the inspections can be reached in a matter of days in Cairo, Tass reported.
While the US has cut off most contacts with Russia over the invasion, some channels remain. In Moscow, officials have called for a resumption of broader strategic dialogue, including on a possible successor treaty to New START. The US has said that’s not possible until the inspections resume.