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US, Russia to Start Nuclear Talks in Austria

VOA News

   Delegations from the United States and Russia meet in Vienna, Austria
   Mondayand Tuesday to discusstheirnuclear arsenalsafter more than a
   year'spause.

   President Donald Trump has abandoned severalU.S.treaties with Russia,
   includingonesonoverflights and on intermediate-range nuclear forces.

   Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Ambassador Marshall
   Billingsleais leadingthe U.S. delegationthat willmeet withtheir Russian
   counterparts led byRussian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkovin
   Vienna. They are to discussmutually agreed topics related to the future
   of arms control, the State Department said in a statementlast week.

   Trumphas saidChina should be involved in the talks on New START,arguing
   thatup until now Beijing hasdone asit likedin developing its weapon
   systems.

   "The United States has extended an open invitation to the People's
   Republic of China to join these discussions,and has made clear the need
   for all three countries to pursue arms control negotiations in good
   faith," theState Departmentstatement said.

   TheChinese government has refused the invitation with its Foreign
   Ministry saying earlier this month that"the time is not yet ripe for
   China to participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations."

   Billingslea repliedin a tweet: "China '¦ should reconsider. Achieving
   Great Power status requires behaving with Great Power responsibility.
   Nomore GreatWall of Secrecy on its nuclear buildup. Seat waiting for
   China in Vienna."

   The U.S.-RussiaNew START treaty agreed upon in 2010limits each side to
   1,550 deployed nuclear warheads. Itexpires in February 2021.

   Arms experts say thetimeis too tightto renew a complex dealbetween the
   United States and Russia,let aloneto negotiate and crafta new treaty
   involving China, withthe U.S. presidential election is quickly
   approaching.

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