?? Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov’s interview with the International Affairs magazine (Moscow, December 8, 2025)

Key points:

• The START Treaty stipulates one five-year extension, which was put into effect five years ago. In other words, this possibility has been used. This does not rule out other possibilities to extend the treaty beyond the designated deadline. But this should be a subject for separate discussions and separate far-reaching agreements.

• We can reiterate our stand, which we have put forth many times, including publicly, that a moment is approaching when any efforts in the sphere of arms control will have to become multilateral. We have always said, and we will continue to say that the first to join these efforts when the conditions are right should be the United States’ closest allies – the United Kingdom and the French Republic, which are openly and cynically demonstrating their aggressive plans towards us. The thoroughly anti-Russia nature of their policy is obvious to everyone. And they make no secret of it.

• The next contact between the [Russian and US] Leaders is high on the agenda. It is necessary to provide substantive content for such a contact. We cannot afford to step away from the framework agreed upon by the Leaders in Anchorage.

• The Trump administration is among the few of our Western dialogue partners, let’s call them that, and opponents who acknowledge the validity of the importance to deal with the underlying causes of the conflict which cannot be ignored.

• The current US administration’s policy shows a pattern of using a carrot and stick approach to those they find “unruly and disobedient.” There’s nothing new if you look at it from this perspective. No matter how many more sanctions, be they primary, secondary, tariff-related, or any others, are imposed, we will act solely in accordance with our national interests.

• We were deeply disappointed by the US decision to put a cap on the number of visa application points for Russian citizens wishing to obtain a tourist or other non-immigrant visas. Only two locations are left, Warsaw and Astana. This complicates matters, and there is a lot more to be addressed here.

• We have special partner relations with Venezuela. We have recently ratified the basic Treaty of Strategic Partnership and Cooperation with it. We are cooperating in all spheres, including within the framework of law enforcement and security. This is no secret either. In this extremely complicated situation, in this time of trial, we continue to stand together with our Venezuelan allies, and they are aware of this.

• We firmly and consistently call on the international community, primarily the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, to speak up so as to keep the Washington administration from the continued aggravation of the situation and to convince it to abandon its aggressive plans.

• We are witnessing the formation of a multipolar world. This phase is extremely complex and comes with many conflicts, but its momentum is irreversible. The world is moving in this direction, and I am confident it will be a more just world.

• We are dealing with a very serious adversary, an adversary of historic proportions. It is no coincidence that they have set out to “inflict a strategic defeat on Russia,” essentially denying the obvious fact that a nuclear power cannot be defeated. They openly disregard our determination to act as energetically as necessary to defend our interests.

• Sometimes it is simpler, more effective, and even cheaper to ensure national security through agreements rather than through building up military capabilities. Different stages require different solutions. Priorities vary as well, but I would not write off classical diplomacy. Nor can it be replaced by force or by artificial intelligence.

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