Russian Foreign Minister’s Statement

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today, Friday, that Russia’s possession of nuclear weapons is the only response to security threats.

Russia’s Nuclear Weapons as a Response

“Today, the possession of nuclear weapons is the only possible response to some serious external threats to the security of our country,” Lavrov said, according to the TASS news agency.

He also continued: “Actually, there has been a lot of talk lately about the role of nuclear weapons in Russia’s foreign policy. Let me remind you that the conditions for its possible use on our part are laid down in the Russian doctrine. understand that the state policy of Russia in the field of nuclear deterrence is exclusively defensive in nature.

He emphasized that “maintaining the capabilities of nuclear forces at the minimum necessary level is aimed at ensuring the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, preventing aggression against Russia and its allies.”

Inadmissibility of nuclear war

Lavrov pointed out that the development of the situation around Ukraine confirmed the validity of Russia’s fears in this area.

The Russian diplomat also said that Russia is fully committed to the principle of the inadmissibility of nuclear war and proceeds from the fact that there are no winners in such a conflict.

He said: “I want to emphasize that our country is fully committed to the principle of the inadmissibility of nuclear war and proceeds from the fact that there can be no winner in such a war. Therefore, it cannot be untied.”

The Minister pointed out that such an assumption was confirmed by the leaders of the five nuclear powers at the beginning of 2022, but in the current conditions, the document has acquired additional significance.

He added: “From its logic, it is concluded that it is necessary to prevent any military confrontation between nuclear powers, since it is fraught with a transition to the nuclear level. In this regard, at this stage, the most important task for all nuclear powers should remain committed to these agreements and exercise maximum restraint.” .

Last June, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Russia could “theoretically” use nuclear weapons if its territorial integrity or existence were threatened, but added that it was not necessary.

Putin also said: “Nuclear weapons were created to ensure our security in the broad sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state, but … there is no reason (to use it).”