News In Brief

Kremlin may back down on space-weapons talks

The Kremlin's negative response to Washington on the issue of talks on space weapons indicates it will probably back down from its offer to start negotiations in September, Western diplomats said Monday.

The diplomats, experts on disarmament, said the tone of a Soviet statement issued Sunday reinforced their view that Moscow had not expected the United States to accept its call for talks and would now look for ways to withdraw its proposal.

''The Soviet response suggested that whatever the Americans say about the talks, Moscow will describe their attitude as unacceptable and blame (President) Reagan for scuppering them,'' one diplomat said.