Following the summit meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Geneva about a month ago, delegations from both sides decided to meet again at the same venue.

Earlier, during a meeting between Biden and Putin, the sides discussed a number of important issues, including strategic stability and arms control. However, no final result was reached at the meeting.

Nokolai Sokov, a senior fellow at the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Nonproliferation, said that very serious results were expected from the meeting between US and Russian delegations.

A Russian delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov arrived in Geneva on Tuesday. Prior to the consultations between the two sides on the plan, the Foreign Ministry said that the parties will discuss issues of maintaining and strengthening strategic stability, as well as prospects for arms control. The US State Department, in turn, added that such a dialogue with Russia is necessary to lay the foundation for future arms control regimes and measures to reduce risks. 

Besides that, the US delegation will include Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who will represent the United States, as well as Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins. The head of the centre N. Sokov added that both sides are trying to take serious steps to stabilize strategic relations and revive arms control, given that the latest signed and in force New START arms control agreement will expire in less than five years.

"I should also note that the last such consultation was held in 2020, when Trump was still in office, and there were many promises of progress. However, negotiations failed because the team under his leadership were greedy and wanted too much. Now I am a little more optimistic," he said.

Azerbaijani political analyst Teymur Gasimli, who has a different approach to the issue, commented to Eruasia Diary. He noted that the discussions in Geneva, which followed the Biden-Putin meeting, will not play a significant role in melting the big ice between global rivals. 

"Russia and the United States have always pursued a policy based on serious interests. There are issues that they cannot compromise with each other. But I do not think that Russia is currently waging a cold war with the United States. On the contrary, behind the scenes, both countries are reaching certain agreements. This, of course, means that the meeting between Biden and Putin a month ago was somewhat successful. 

I would like to add that currently the United States has a conflict of interest with Russia over its desire to deploy military bases in Central Asia, especially in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. That is why Russia has deployed its contingent on the border with Tajikistan. Negotiations are underway between the parties, and I would like to add that the Russian side is actively expressing its views in terms of common interests. Therefore, the success of this meeting between the two countries depends on the overlap of interests in Central Asia, Ukraine and Moldova."

İn addition, Gasimli commented on how the issue of arms control between Washington and Moscow will be resolved after the talks. 

“First of all, the issue of arms control is a complete utopian idea. No matter what level of meeting is held on this, it still remains unresolved. As a result both Russia and The United States continue to sell their weapons to the world. I assume even after this meeting, the issue of armaments will remain unresolved on the agenda. 

Elnur Enveroglu

Eurasia Diary