US Ambassador to South Korea, "Russia Should Not Close Embassy... Nuclear Arms Reduction Talks Difficult"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] John Sullivan, the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, warned the Russian government that the embassy should not be closed in order to maintain dialogue between nuclear-armed countries. This statement is interpreted as a caution amid concerns about a complete severance of diplomatic relations with the U.S., as Russia has been expelling Western diplomats, including those from the European Union (EU), following its invasion of Ukraine.

On the 6th (local time), Ambassador Sullivan said in an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS, "Russia should not close the U.S. embassy amid the crisis triggered by the invasion of Ukraine," adding, "Dialogue between the world's largest nuclear powers must continue, and closing the embassy would be a grave mistake."

He also expressed concerns about nuclear arms reduction talks between the U.S. and Russia, putting pressure on the Russian side. He stated, "There is currently no possibility of resuming talks for a nuclear arms reduction agreement," and warned strongly, "The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), extended last year, has a term of five years, and 2026 will come quickly." This remark is presumed to be a response to Russia's recent frequent nuclear threats.

Earlier, on the 18th of last month, the Russian government announced it would expel dozens of diplomats from EU member countries such as France, Spain, and Italy in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western countries following the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, concerns about the expulsion of U.S. diplomats and the U.S. embassy have increased, raising fears of a diplomatic break between the two countries.

During the Cold War, when competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was at its peak, the two countries never completely severed diplomatic relations by closing embassies. Since the U.S. and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations in 1933, their diplomatic ties have continued. However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, U.S. and Western sanctions against Russia and ongoing U.S. military support for Ukraine have led to a deterioration in bilateral relations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.