VOA常速英语:Russia Suspends Nuclear Disposal Deals With US in Fallout Over Syria(翻译)

As the damage continues to mount from Syria’s Russia-backed offensive on Aleppo,so does the political fallout from the failed cease-fire agreement. Russia’s parliament is suspending an agreement with the United States for converting weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for nuclear power plants.

The Kremlin says it is willing to reinstate the deal in return for the West lifting Ukraine-related sanctions and NATO reducing its presence in Eastern Europe. But such demands are unrealistic, says analyst Keir Giles speaking via Skype.

“If you take the example of the plutonium agreement, Russia walking away but placing demands,saying that it will return to this agreement if the United States fulfills certain conditions,some of which are unrealistic, some of which are completely unachievable,that is just a symptom of how Russia now once again feels that it can put forward demands,which are beyond the realm of the possible.”

If implemented, the deal would have seen enough plutonium for 17,000 nuclear weapons converted into fuel.

“I fear it may push the Russian leadership to dismantle some other important agreements that exist between the United States and Russia in the field of arms control,such as the INF [Intermediate Nuclear Forces] treaty”.

Scrapping the deal is seen as a symptom of worsening relations which saw Russian forces in Syria warned the U.S.-led coalition to keep its distance when targeting positions held by militants.

“The withdrawal of cooperation from both sides in so many different areas to do with defense and security just makes the whole situation more alarming at the moment”.

Many worry any incident could quickly escalate.“We’re at the point in U.S.-Russia relations when the next qualitative stage is an open conflict.I think we need to be aware of the risks that we’re running at this point”.

The United States and France say Russia’s actions in Syria could amount to war crimes.Meanwhile, Russia announced plans to have its military bases in Syria become permanent.

Daniel Schearf, VOA News, Moscow.