New arms control talks between the United States and Russia are to begin within days, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“We are planning in the coming days - I hope by mid-July - a meeting of delegations to look at tasks in the field of strategic security”, - Lavrov said.

Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin had agreed to such talks two weeks ago at their summit in Geneva.

The US had previously walked away from several agreements because Russia was said to have failed to abide by the rules. Moscow rejected this and repeatedly warned that an exit from the agreements could lead to a new arms race.

In early June, Putin sealed his country’s withdrawal from the treaty on international military observation flights.