Sullivan: US Ready To Hold Nuclear Arms Talks Without Preconditions

Wires carrying comments from White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on nuclear arms control, stating that the US is, "willing to hold arms control discussions with Russia and China without preconditions."

• Sullivan's comments come after yesterday's announcement from the US State Department that the US has taken countermeasures in response to Russia’s withdrawal from the New START nuclear treaty.Fact Sheet
• According to the State Department, Russia's "legally invalid" suspension of New START necessitated measures including "withholding from Russia notifications required under the treaty," and "refraining from facilitating New START Treaty inspection activities on U.S. territory."
• Today, Sullivan clarifies that, the US is "prepared to stick to central limits of new start treaty as long as Russia does," and is ready to engage with Moscow to develop a post-New START framework for arms control.
• New START , negotiated by President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in 2010 - widely considered one of the most critical treaties to prevent nuclear proliferation - was suspended by Russia in February after a long period of dormancy when mutual inspections lapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.