Russia Refuses to Link Nuclear Reduction with Sanctions

Moscow, Jan 16 (Prensa Latina) Russia today rejected the possibility of discussing with the United States a relationship between the reduction of nuclear weapons and the suspension of unilateral sanctions against it, as Donald Trump's team would propose.

There is no such deal, the Kremlin's spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, referring to an arrangement for further reduction of the nuclear arsenal of both nations.

Peskov recalled that Moscow was not at all the initiator of the imposition of sanctions and it is not also prepared to state its suspension in the coming meetings with foreign representatives, he said.

The issue of cutting atomic weapons in Russia and the United States could be discussed only after President-elect, Donald Trump, takes office in the White House, the spokesman said.

In statement to Times, Trump said he would pose to Russia the substantial decline of the stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction of the two states, and the possibility of repealing sanctions against Russia.

I can put an end to the restrictions of the West against Moscow, after reaching an agreement on the nuclear reduction, said Trump, who as a Republican candidate defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton on November 8.