MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - Russia and the United States are discussing aspects of the New START treaty via non-public channels, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
"We have paid attention to the fact that officials in Washington say that this issue is being discussed via non-public channels. I can confirm that it is true," Ryabkov told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Generally speaking, everything has been said via public channels as well," he said.
"The president of Russia has addressed this topic many times already, including after the address to the Federal Assembly. There is also a relevant statement of the Foreign Ministry. There were also other commentaries," Ryabkov said.
"Until the United States changes its conduct, until we see some signs of common sense as regards what they are doing in relation to Ukraine and in Ukraine, we do not see any chances for the decision on suspending [Russia's participation in] the New START treaty to be reviewed or examined once again," he said.
When asked whether contacts with U.S. representatives are possible on the sidelines of the disarmament conference in Geneva, Ryabkov said that he has "nothing to announce in this regard."