The US and Russia have ways to manage «nuclear risks» at the intelligence level, Elizabeth Rudd, the chief of staff at the US embassy in Moscow, told the Russian state news agency RIA, adding that, at least for now, there are no meetings scheduled on the dossier.
Earlier this month, CIA Director William Burns met with Sergei Naryshkin, the head of the Russian spy agency, to warn him of the consequences of Russia's use of nuclear weapons, according to the White House. Russia limited itself to saying that «sensitive» issues were discussed and refrained from making any other comment.
«The US has channels with Russian Federation to manage risks, particularly nuclear risks, and that was the purpose of CIA Director Burns» meeting with his Russian counterpart", Ms Rudd says in a video uploaded to RIA's Telegram page.
«Director Burns did not negotiate anything and did not discuss the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine,» he added.
The diplomat noted that if a new discussion is needed through this channel, it can be organized.
However, «there is nothing planned as far as I know», he added.
Russia said after the meeting between Mr Naryshkin and Mr Burns that it was open to more high-level talks with the US. However, the Kremlin appeared to downplay the chances of a summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, ruling it «out of the question» at present.
Officials of the two states are expected to hold talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, from tomorrow, Tuesday 29 November to next Tuesday 6 December on the resumption of inspections under New START, the bilateral agreement on the reduction of nuclear arsenals. However, Moscow does not seem to believe that significant progress on this issue is feasible immediately.
