In a significant development, Russia has dismissed a proposal from the United States to resume talks on nuclear arms control, asserting that such discussions are impossible while Washington continues to offer military support to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made these remarks during an annual news conference on Thursday, accusing the West of exacerbating global security risks by encouraging Ukraine to intensify strikes on Russian territory.

Lavrov’s rejection of the U.S. proposal centered on the argument that for nuclear talks to proceed, the U.S. must first revise its current policy toward Russia. The Foreign Minister criticized U.S. demands for inspections of Russian nuclear weapons sites as “indecent,” particularly in light of Ukraine’s attacks on Russian nuclear-capable bomber bases during the ongoing conflict.

Highlighting Russia’s perspective on the U.S. motives, Lavrov suggested that Washington’s push for nuclear arms talks was driven by a desire to gain control over Russia’s nuclear arsenal and minimize nuclear risks for itself. He added that these risks were emerging as a result of forceful pressure on Russia, accusing the West of blocking any talks on ending the conflict and inciting further attacks on Russian territory.

Lavrov went on to state that the West’s encouragement of Ukraine and the transfer of relevant weapons demonstrated a lack of interest in a constructive solution. Instead, he argued that the West’s actions were pushing towards the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, thereby raising new strategic risks.

Reaffirming Russia’s commitment to its “special military operation” in Ukraine, Lavrov emphasized that Moscow would persistently pursue its goals despite Western pressure. He warned those in the West who fantasize about defeating Russia that they have failed to learn from history lessons.

As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, the rejection of the U.S. proposal for nuclear talks adds another layer of complexity to the geopolitical landscape. The situation remains fluid, and the international community watches closely as diplomatic efforts face increasing challenges amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.