Lavrov: U.S. Provided No Explanation on Trump’s Nuclear Test Intentions
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing RIA Novosti via Mehr news Agency, russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia has not yet received any clarification from the United States about former president Donald Trump’s comments regarding nuclear tests. He added that Moscow is ready to discuss with Washington its alleged suspicions of Russia secretly resuming nuclear testing, calling these accusations false. Lavrov also expressed readiness to negotiate with washington about arrangements for a meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump if proposed again by the US.
The Russian minister further stated that reports published in the Financial Times about reasons behind the cancellation of a Putin-Trump summit contain numerous falsehoods. He described America’s position-that nuclear weapons tests serve geopolitical aims-as concerning. Additionally, he condemned US actions near Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking as unacceptable.
Lavrov then noted that his recent telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was constructive and respectful. They emphasized progress achieved based on understandings reached at the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin. Following his discussion with Blinken, a meeting involving officials from both countries’ foreign ministries, military sectors, and intelligence agencies was planned.
The minister added that European efforts to draw the United States into supporting an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine have not been unsuccessful. While Putin and Trump might not have agreed on every detail during their Anchorage meeting (Alaska summit), they did reach understandings. A few days before their conversation, Russia sent an informal note reminding Washington of those agreements made in Anchorage. Lavrov stressed there is no connection between discussions at a Russia-US meeting in Budapest and current debates over nuclear testing.
The Russian official underscored that Russia’s unofficial note sent to America contained nothing beyond what had been discussed in Anchorage…… London and British media have launched an information campaign against Moscow. He questioned how London intends to absolve itself from involvement by its intelligence services in attempts to capture a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet.
