Moscow — Reckless campaign rhetoric of the President of trump about a possible thaw in relations with Russia now came face to face with the reality that is forced to work his new administration.
Thursday, February 9, became known some details of a phone conversation between trump and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, during which the trump criticized the Treaty on the reduction of strategic offensive arms, signed under the Obama administration — according to rumors, the Trump had to pause in his telephone conversation with Putin to ask his assistant about the essence of this agreement. After that, according to the news Agency Reuters, trump called the new Contract on reduction of strategic offensive arms (start) is beneficial only for Russia.
On Friday, February 10, the Kremlin has refused to comment on this information on the telephone conversation of the presidents.
“I couldn’t confirm it. All we considered necessary to report on the results of the telephone conversation, we informed, the more we have nothing to add,” — said the press Secretary of the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov in conversation with journalists.
Earlier, the press Secretary of the White house Sean Spicer (Sean Spicer) questioned the accuracy of this information in an interview with reporters Washington Post, saying that trump knew what is the essence of this contract, and adding that he just asked the assistant for advice.
Russia keen to trump the rhetoric about improving relations and its willingness to redefine the concept of American exceptionalism, which Putin called dangerous.
However, a more specific (and still vague) details of foreign policy trump, including new negotiations on arms control, in the case of Moscow, most likely, doomed to failure, according to analysts. In addition, many believe that the eccentric manner trump does not promise anything good Moscow.
“Moscow is worried not so much that it is unpredictable how much his habit of taking decisions unilaterally,” says Alexei Makarkin, Deputy Director of the Center for political technologies in Moscow.
Although many Russian politicians publicly praised trump, according to Makarkin, the Kremlin these concerns were present even before the vote in the US in November.
The Obama administration has become a convenient target for the wrath of the Kremlin, caused by US foreign policy, although some elements, such as the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, Russia perceives as beneficial result. Russia and the United States was among the States that contributed to the conclusion of an agreement with Iran in 2015.
“Problems begin when we turn to specific points of foreign policy, believes Makarkin. — Trump is interested in the full review of the legacy of the Obama administration. He rejects even that can benefit both countries, the new start Treaty, for example.”
Moscow did not have high hopes on the foreign policy trump and might prefer it to focus on its domestic problems, according to Sergei Karaganov, a political scientist and Dean of the faculty of world Economics and politics, Higher school of Economics in Moscow.
“Many doubt that he can realize his political goals, said the Karaganov. — In the best case we will cease to blame each other and establish a somewhat more civilized relationship.”
According to him, perhaps the US and Russia even have a chance to cooperate in the fight against ISIS (a terrorist organization banned in Russia — approx. ed.) and the comprehensive agreement on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
However, Karaganov added: “Russia does not limit itself to any agreements on nuclear arms control”.
First Moscow tried to diminish the importance of the ideas trump about a possible reduction of nuclear arsenals, including the idea of a “Grand bargain”, which can be concluded with Russia in the framework of which a new agreement on nuclear weapons can be signed in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
“In respect of Russia sanctions — let’s see if we can conclude a bargain, — said trump, as reported by Reuters and other sources. — First of all, I think nuclear weapons can be very substantially reduced and it can be part of the [transaction]. But Russia is now suffering greatly from the sanctions, and I think it’s to do something that many could benefit”.
The Kremlin has criticized this position.
“To link the issue of sanctions and the issue of nuclear reductions are unlikely in the future will be possible with the expert point of view, Peskov said during a television interview, which took place the day after the inauguration of the trump in January. — Our President has repeatedly said that the issue of sanctions is beyond the scope of our agenda. Russia was not the initiator of this question. And she will not, according to Putin, the initiator of the abolition of some restrictions”.
According to Peskov, Putin supports the idea of disarmament, but it must be “fair, proportional and without breaking this balance.”
The new start Treaty requires that the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads does not exceed 1 550 units. It says nothing about the number of nondeployed warheads.
Trump mentioned the Treaty in all three debates with democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the election campaign. He said that Russia has increased its nuclear Arsenal, and by mistake added that the US should not do the same with non-deployed nuclear warheads.
