US-Russia security talks on nuclear arms, Ukraine set for January 10: White House

The rivals’ much-anticipated talks will be held as part of the Strategic Security Dialogue that Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin launched at their summit in June

Moscow and Nato representatives are then expected to meet on January 12, with Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting after

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Russian and American flags fly outside the US embassy building in Moscow. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:29pm, 28 Dec 2021

The United States and Russia will hold much-anticipated talks in January, a White House official said, with the rivals set to negotiate on nuclear arms control and mounting tensions over Ukraine.

“The United States looks forward to engaging with Russia,” a National Security Council spokesperson said on Monday, on condition of anonymity.

“When we sit down to talk, Russia can put its concerns on the table and we will put our concerns on the table with Russia’s activities as well.”

Ukrainian military reservists take part in an exercise aimed at repelling a Russian attack near Kyiv on Christmas Day. Photo: AFP

Bilateral talks are scheduled for January 10, the spokesperson said.

Moscow and Nato representatives are then expected to meet on January 12, while Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which includes the US, will meet on January 13, the spokesperson added.

The January 10 meeting will be held as part of the Strategic Security Dialogue initiative launched by US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at their summit in Geneva last June.

While that format is mostly consecrated to resuscitating post-Cold War nuclear arms control treaties, the talks will also cover the stand-off over Ukraine, where Russia has deployed a large combat force on the border, a senior White House official said, also on condition of anonymity.