Her Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Russia Sergei Ryabkov said today that he was discussing a new START treaty to control nuclear weapon with his new ambassador USA Lynn Tracy was reported by the Interfax news agency last week.

Ryabkov added that Moscow was committed to the treaty, but added that no date had been set for new talks, citing war in Ukraine.

Negotiations between Washington and Moscow on a new START treaty were scheduled for November last year, but were canceled at the last minute.

Meanwhile, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said today, Monday, that the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, will visit Moscow this week, state media reported.

The meeting will focus on creating a security zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Ryabkov said, adding that Moscow is looking forward to a deep and professional discussion.

The IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has repeatedly expressed concern about the plant, which has been bombed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and beyond.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}