Russian Foreign Ministry Refutes Claims On Moscow Changing Approach To Nuclear Weapons Use

Russia has not changed its stance on the use of nuclear weapons despite the respective claims from the United States, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th June, 2019) Russia has not changed its stance on the use of nuclear weapons despite the respective claims from the United States, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday.

"We do not understand on what basis the US colleagues have made themselves believe that in Russia there was a change of approach to basic, doctrinal principles on the use of nuclear weapons. It is thought that we now allow the use of nuclear weapons on battlefield in our concept of limited nuclear war. Perhaps our US colleagues know something about us that we ourselves do not know as over the last five years the examples of such an approach have been vividly presented to the global community in rumors on collision with [US President Donald] Trump's election campaign," Ryabkov said at a panel discussion held within the framework of the Primakov Readings international forum, held in Moscow.

The unfounded allegations on the US behalf hamper dialogue between Moscow and Washington, the deputy foreign minister added.

"Over these years, there have been attempts to make us believe that we are consciously violating the INF [Russian-US Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces] Treaty. When we ask them on what basis it is being said, they tell us that 'we know it ourselves.' This not a basis for dialogue," Ryabkov underlined.

Trump announced in October that his country intended to withdraw from the INF Treaty over Russia's alleged violations of the agreement, which bans all ground-launched missiles, conventional or nuclear, with ranges of 310 to 3,400 miles. Moscow has refuted the accusations, claiming that Washington itself is breaching the terms of the deal.

On February 2, the United States formally suspended its obligations under the INF Treaty and triggered the six-month withdrawal process. Washington said it would terminate this procedure if Russia agreed to be compliant with the pact. Moscow responded by suspending its participation in the treaty as well.