United States and Russia will resume negotiations early next month and will address bilateral issues like growing tensions over Ukraine and nuclear arms control. The talks will reportedly begin on January 10, 2022, according to media reports citing White House’s national security official.

“The United States looks forward to engaging with Russia”, the official. identified as the spokesperson of the National Security Council told AFP.

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Following the diplomatic engagement, officials from the Russian delegation and NATO are expected to meet on January 12. Another meeting has reportedly been scheduled for January 13, which will include Russia and representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, of which the United States is a part.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, earlier this week, also hinted at such a meeting. “It is with the US that we will carry out the main work of negotiations, which will take place immediately after the new year holidays end”, he said in a statement, according to reports from Associated Press. 

Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back the alliance’s military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

Washington and its allies have refused to provide such pledges but said they are ready for the talks.

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The demands, contained in a proposed Russia-US security treaty and a security agreement between Moscow and NATO, were drafted amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine that has stoked fears of a possible invasion.

Russia has denied it has plans to attack its neighbor but pressed for legal guarantees that would rule out NATO expansion and weapons deployment there.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has decided to convene a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council on January 12, a NATO official said Saturday, adding that the bloc was in touch with Russia about the meeting.

(With AP inputs)