Russia and the United States are to discuss resuming nuclear arms reduction talks in the coming weeks in their first face-to-face meeting since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the business daily Kommersant reported on Tuesday, citing three unnamed sources.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) talks could be held in an unnamed Middle Eastern country in late November or early December instead of the traditional venue in Geneva, the Russian newspaper claimed.
The report comes after weeks of concern about a possible Russian nuclear escalation in Ukraine following thinly veiled threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow later toned down its rhetoric after reports of talks with U.S. officials.
New START, the last remaining arms reduction pact between the Cold War foes, is one of the few areas where Moscow and Washington have shown themselves open to cooperation, despite tensions over the invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions.
