Naryshkin announced a meeting with the head of the CIA

Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin said he met with CIA director William Burns. About this he informed in an interview with RIA Novosti. According to him, the topics for discussion were nuclear safety and Ukraine.

November 28 Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in Moscow Elizabeth Rud stated about the existence of a channel between the heads of the CIA and the SVR to discuss the topic of nuclear risk management. According to her, this issue “was the purpose of the meeting of CIA Director Burns with his Russian counterpart.” Rud added that during the meeting there were no discussions regarding the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. In addition, she stressed the possibility of reactivating the communication channel between Russia and the United States, if necessary.

November 14 Kommersant informedthat a meeting of Russian and US delegations is taking place in Ankara. According to the newspaper, Naryshkin flew to Ankara from the Russian side. On the same day, Reuters and CNN, citing a White House spokesman reportedthat Burns had a meeting in Ankara on November 14 with his “Russian intelligence colleague.”

“For my part, I confirm the statement of Mrs. Rud. Additionally, I can note that the most frequently used words at this meeting were “strategic stability”, “nuclear security”, “Ukraine” and “Kyiv regime,” Naryshkin told the agency.

Formerly also Rud statedthat Washington intends to resume dialogue with Moscow on strategic stability. “The president [Джо] Biden has made very clear his commitment to negotiating to maintain the arms control structure beyond the START expiration in 2026. And we remain committed to that goal,” she said.

In response, Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Ermakov declaredthat negotiations between Russia and the United States on strategic stability are possible if there is an adequate partner in Washington and refusal to cross Moscow’s “red lines” in the field of security. He added that the United States should “ripen to a serious conversation” and also not cross Moscow’s “red lines” in the field of security.

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