The United States has informed Russia that it will not rejoin the Open Skies Agreement.

The United States told Russia on Thursday that it would not rejoin a major arms embargo. Both sides are preparing for a meeting between their presidents next month.

U.S. officials said the secretary of state Wendy Sherman The Russians took part in it Joe Biden’s government has decided not to return to the Open Skies deal. It allows to monitor the military installations of both countries and the aircraft of the previous government Donald Trump.

Thursday is the end only A major arms control agreement between nuclear powers is in effect: the new START. Trump has done nothing to extend the new START, which has already expired this year, but after reaching the White House, Biden quickly extended it to five years. And began a review of the withdrawal of the Open Sky Agreement.

Moscow and Washington have 90% nuclear weapons.

Officials said the review was complete and that Sherman had informed the Russian deputy Sergei Rybkov US decision on Thursday. Authorities have no authority to discuss the matter publicly and asked to remain anonymous.

The move comes just weeks before the president Biden And its Russian representative Vladimir Putin Meet in Geneva on June 16 in an effort to find common ground amid a sharp decline in relations that have been at a very low level for decades. But the White House is very pragmatic and assertive in its foreign policy Open to find contact points Even with their worst adversaries when it comes to issues of American concern, such as climate change or disarmament.

The Open Sky Agreement aims to strengthen trust between Russia and the West By allowing signatories to gather information about forces and operations and to allow spy planes to operate in each other’s territories. More than 1,500 aircraft have been operated under this agreement Since it came into force in 2002.

(With AP info)

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