/RUSSIA: Arms Control Consultations In Cairo Postponed

Bilateral talks between the U.S. and Russia on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which were scheduled to take place between November 29 and December 6 in Cairo unexpectedly broke down, Kommersant reports in an exclusive piece.

• The newspaper cites comments from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, noting that "Russia unilaterally postponed the meeting and said it would propose new dates." Parties were expected to discuss issues including mutual on-site inspections.
• The bilateral consultative commission on the START was supposed to meet for the first time since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The resumption of talks would indicate that the two sides are still able to discuss matters of mutual interest, such as arms control.
• The new START entered into force in 2011 and was extended ten years later. It is a bilateral nuclear arms reduction agreement, which calls for cutting the number of strategic nuclear missile launchers in both the U.S. and Russia, and implements an inspection and monitoring regime.