Emerging
May 26, 20262
Ryabkov says U.S. policy changes needed for strategic stability talks
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said there are no current conditions for strategic stability dialogue with the United States, and that any such talks would require tangible changes in Washington’s policy toward Moscow. He said Russia sees no sign of that happening now and is not considering the option.
Quick Facts
- warned that no conditions exist for strategic stability dialogue with the United States
- said only tangible improvements in U.S. policy toward Russia could open the door to talks
- said Russia is not considering such possibilities at present
- Sergey Ryabkov
- Russian Foreign Ministry
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said there are currently no conditions for strategic stability talks with the United States, arguing that such a dialogue would require visible changes in Washington’s approach toward Moscow. He made the remarks to reporters on the sidelines of the First International Security Forum in Moscow under the auspices of the Russian Security Council.
Ryabkov said the current global situation is not conducive to discussions on strategic stability or future arms control. He added that only tangible improvements in U.S. policy toward Russia, if they occur, could prompt Moscow to consider such talks.
The deputy foreign minister said he sees no sign of such a shift at present, saying that "nothing even remotely like that is visible at the moment." He stressed that Russia is not considering such possibilities now.
The comments fit into broader Russian warnings about rising strategic tensions among nuclear powers and the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Western countries. Ryabkov has framed those tensions as a growing security risk with potentially serious consequences.
Why This Matters
These remarks signal that one of the few remaining channels for nuclear-risk reduction between Moscow and Washington remains stalled. For readers, that means strategic stability talks, arms-control discussions, and broader U.S.-Russia diplomatic thaw are unlikely in the near term unless policy shifts occur first, keeping pressure elevated in an already tense security environment.
Timeline & Sources
May 26, 2026
WireTASS reported Ryabkov's remarks on the sidelines of the First International Security Forum in Moscow.