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Russia has dismissed fears of nuclear war after suspending the New START treaty. Photos/Illustrations
MOSCOW – Moscow’s suspension of participation in the New START treaty not bring the two sides closer to a nuclear conflict. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Russia Sergey Ryabkov on Russian TV.
“I do not believe that the decision to suspend the New START Treaty brings us closer to nuclear war,” Ryabkov said as quoted by the Russian news agency TASS, Thursday (23/2/2023).
According to the Russian diplomat, logic and interpretation may differ.
“What can bring us closer to nuclear war, however, are those who continue to escalate the situation, increasing the stakes without looking back, in the most destructive and irresponsible way that is the US and its satellites. It was they who pushed the world to the brink of such a catastrophe. We have warned America, we are doing it through closed channels and we are doing it in public, that this kind of policy is dangerous,” Ryabkov underlined.
Read: France Regrets Russia’s Decision to Suspend the START Nuclear Treaty
Meanwhile, Ryabkov also underlined that the suspension of the treaty by itself does not change Russia’s stance on how and in what hypothetical situation nuclear weapons could be used.
“There is no direct link,” said the senior Russian diplomat.
“But I underline once again that the choice is for Americans to determine where the world will go from here. They must ultimately understand their responsibility for the fate of civilization,” he concluded.
Read: Medvedev: Russia is ready to defend itself with any weapon, including nuclear
As is known, President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday announced the suspension of the nuclear arms control agreement.
