Russia comments on nuclear war statement

A joint statement by China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US on the unacceptability of nuclear weapon use is an important milestone, which comes amid an extremely tense international security situation, Moscow said.

The statement was issued by the group of nuclear-armed countries on Monday. The signees said they “affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” stressing that nuclear armaments “should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war” rather than be used to start it.

The declaration was praised by Russia’s Foreign Ministry, which said the statement on nuclear weaponry and the arms race was an important development for international security.

“Russia firmly believes that there can be no winners in a nuclear war, and it should never be unleashed. We have consistently promoted the idea of confirming this principle by all the Nuclear 5 nations,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

Moscow was the main driver behind the statement, Zakharova revealed, adding that it was originally designed to be unveiled during the 10th conference on non-proliferation. The meeting was set to kick off in New York on Tuesday, but it has been postponed over the coronavirus situation in the United States.

The rare demonstration of unity shown by the nuclear powers is very important amid the deteriorating international security situation, Zakharova noted, expressing hopes that the statement will contribute to global stability.

“We hope that in the current complicated international security environment, the approval of such a political statement by the leaders of the nuclear powers will help to reduce the level of international tension and curb the arms race,” she said.

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