Ryabkov warns Washington not to enter a new arms race

(Patria) - If the United States expects to win the next arms race, Washington is mistaken, a senior Russian diplomat said in a statement published on Wednesday, adding that a military conflict between Moscow and NATO cannot be ruled out, Reuters reported.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of relations with the United States, non-proliferation and arms control, told the daily Izvestia that current circumstances are not "conducive" to arms talks with Washington.

"If the United States expects to win the next arms race, repeating to some extent the experience of President Ronald Reagan... then the Americans are deluded," Ryabkov said.

"We will not succumb to provocations... but we can guarantee that we will ensure our security," he added.

Ryabkov reiterated Russia's stance that Moscow does not threaten military conflict with NATO, but said that possible escalation depends on the alliance's actions. "The burden is entirely on NATO's side," he added.

Moscow's ties with Washington were so poor that a "break" was possible, but Russia "would never initiate such a step," he said.

"The situation is not conducive to exchanging signals (on arms control), even on such key issues," he concluded.