If the United States expects to win the next arms race, it is mistaken, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in comments published on Wednesday, in which he did not rule out a possible military conflict between Russia and NATO, Reuters reported.

The current circumstances are not “favorable” for discussions with Washington on arms control, Serhii Ryabkov, responsible for relations with the US, non-proliferation and arms control at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with the semi-official “Izvestia”. Agerpres.

“If the United States expects to win the next arms race by to some extent repeating the experience of Ronald Reagan’s presidency … then the Americans are wrong,” Ryabkov said.

“We will not succumb to challenges…but we can guarantee that we will ensure our security,” he said.

Russia’s relations with many Western countries have soured since the February 2022 large-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Moscow now says it is fighting what it calls a “collective West” in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled to the West that he was “not bluffing” when he said he could use nuclear weapons if Russia’s territorial integrity was threatened and hinted at the possibility of Moscow resuming nuclear tests.

Serhii Ryabkov: NATO bears full responsibility

In an interview with “Izvestia”, Ryabkov repeated Moscow’s position that Russia is not threatening a military conflict with NATO, but said that a possible escalation depends on the actions of the North Atlantic Alliance.

“The responsibility lies entirely with NATO,” said a Russian official. “It depends on the North Atlantic Alliance. The choice is entirely on NATO’s side. We are ready, as it has already been demonstrated, to protect our national interests with all the means at our disposal,” said Serhiy Ryabkov, quoted by “Izvestia”.

Moscow’s relations with Washington are so bad that a “rupture” is possible, but Russia “will never take such a step,” he added.

“The situation is unfavorable for signals even on such key issues” (for example, arms control), Ryabkov said.

Russia was ready for negotiations “on the basis of equality and mutual respect”

Regarding the restoration of relations with the North Atlantic Alliance, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is pessimistic.

“I do not think that relations between Russia and NATO will be restored in one form or another in the near future. This is excluded for both principled and practical reasons. If someone in the West thinks that we need these relations and that one day we will come and demand their restoration, then they are most mistaken,” said Serhii Ryabkov.

Earlier, according to him, Russia was ready for negotiations “on the basis of equality and mutual respect”, but now, “against what is happening, I cannot even imagine the situation and the context in which this is possible”, added Serhii Ryabkov. , who, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, said, condemning the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance in Eastern Europe, that NATO should “roll up its sleeves and return to the borders of 1997.”

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