Deputy head of General Staff to head Russian delegation at Ukraine talks in UAE: Kremlin

MOSCOW

Deputy Head of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov will lead the Russian delegation at US-mediated talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4-5, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a briefing in Moscow, Peskov said Russia would be represented by the same delegation that took part in consultations with Ukraine under US mediation on Jan. 23–24, also held in Abu Dhabi.

"It will be the same delegation as last time, led by Kostyukov," he said.

Turning to the looming expiration of the New START Treaty between Russia and the US on Feb. 5, Peskov warned that its lapse would make the global security environment more dangerous.

"Within a few days, the world will probably find itself in a more dangerous position compared to what it is now. For the first time, the US and the Russian Federation, the two countries that possess the largest nuclear arsenals in the world, will be without a fundamental document that would limit and control these arsenals. We believe this is very bad," he said.

The spokesman said President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the treaty’s limitations remained in force, adding that Moscow had yet to receive a response from Washington.

"Our proposals remain on the agenda for the remaining days," he said.

Asked about the possibility of China joining a future arms control framework, Peskov said Beijing had made clear it opposed such participation.

"You know that our Chinese friends are against this; their nuclear potential is currently incomparable to that of Russia or the United States," he said.

Moscow cannot ignore the nuclear arsenals of US allies in Europe, namely the UK and France, in any future talks on strategic security.

The New START Treaty, formally known as the Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms, limits the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles, certain other rocket systems, and nuclear warheads held by Russia and the US.

Addressing remarks by US President Donald Trump on a tariff deal with India linked to purchases of Russian oil, Peskov said the Kremlin was closely following developments.

He said Moscow had not received any notification from New Delhi about stopping purchases of Russian oil, which Trump described as a condition for easing US tariffs.

Trump said on Tuesday, after speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that India had agreed not to buy Russian oil and that US tariffs on Indian goods would be reduced.

Peskov reiterated Russia respected US-India relations while attaching equal importance to deepening its own strategic partnership with New Delhi.