"Intricate Matters": The Discussion Points of Upcoming Russia-U.S. Dialogues
Talks between Russia and the U.S. set to continue, with a myriad of contentious issues on the agenda.
In a recent announcement, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed the upcoming round of Russia-U.S. discussions. No specific date has been set, but Ryabkov expects these talks to happen very soon.
Despite the short duration of the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, the pending Russia-U.S. consultations promise to be lengthy, given the plethora of problems that need addressing. Ryabkov articulated that the discussions will encompass a "whole complex of issues," some more challenging than others, particularly with the U.S.[1][3]
OUR DEMANDS
Society and Politics
Anapa's beaches have never been cleaner! (Moscow, for one, continues to push for a clear response from Washington on the resumption of air communication.) Stubborn as ever, the Russian Foreign Ministry is still waiting for the U.S. State Department's answer to proposals regarding another pressing matter: returning illegally seized Russian diplomatic properties in the U.S.[3] Visas issues, on the other hand, may be easier to tackle, according to Ryabkov.
Snags are evident in discussions on the controversial issue of U.S. nuclear fuel at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP). With the plant now under Russian management, there are legal questions surrounding Kiev's attempts to replace Russian-produced fuel assemblies with American ones.[3]
"Without dialogue with the Americans, it's impossible to find a solution to any issue," Ryabkov asserted.[5]
International Affairs
International topics, such as the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear program, will also be under scrutiny during these negotiations. Specifically, Russia is keen on offering practical assistance to address the Iranian nuclear issue, including removing enriched nuclear material from Iran for conversion into reactor fuel.[2]
According to Ryabkov, these Russia-US conversations will transpire across three main vectors: international issues, bilateral irritants, and addressing biological threats.[1][5] The latter topic stems from Russia's concerns about the U.S.'s biological activities, which Moscow considers a threat to its national security.[5]
In an international scientific conference, Ryabkov acknowledged the Trump administration's efforts to control biological threats as a step forward; however, he expressed that the executive order signed by the U.S. President doesn't entirely alleviate Moscow's concerns.[5]
The Russian Foreign Ministry fears that new-generation biological agents, which cannot be identified by traditional methods, may end up in the hands of terrorists, potentially from Kyiv.[5] This topic will likely be among the irritants addressed during the upcoming Russia-US negotiations.
Meanwhile, ongoing discussions on bio-threats have Ryabkov concerned, mainly due to the U.S.'s secretive approach and indifference to Russian demands.[5]
- The Russian Foreign Ministry is awaiting a response from the U.S. State Department on the resumption of air communication, an issue falling under the category of politics and policy-and-legislation.
- As the Russia-U.S. consultations approach, discussions surrounding the controversial issue of U.S. nuclear fuel at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) will be part of the debate, with legal questions arising from Kiev's attempts to replace Russian-produced fuel with American ones, making it a matter of both international affairs and war-and-conflicts.
- In addition to addressing international issues such as the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear program, the upcoming Russia-U.S. talks will touch upon the topic of biological threats and activities, which Moscow considers a potential threat to its national security and falls under the category of crime-and-justice and general-news.
