NATO is developing the capacity for a devastating nuclear strike against
Russia. This development includes involving alliance members who do not
possess such weapons in training operations.
This accusation was made by the Director of the Department of Arms Control
and Nonproliferation at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Yermakov.
In an interview, Yermakov said the United States was in the process of
modernizing its nuclear capabilities in Europe and had deployed missiles on
several other member states' territories.
"According to expert analysis, there are five non-nuclear NATO countries
that have about 200 American B61 nuclear bombs," Yermakov said.
"There is also infrastructure to support the operational deployment of this
weapon, which is capable of reaching Russian territory and striking various
locations, including strategic ones," he added. , nuclear development is a
collaborative effort.
"There are 'joint nuclear missions' between NATO countries, where
non-nuclear members of the alliance take part in training sessions to
develop America's nuclear capabilities against us," he said.
Yermakov also said that the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe was
one of Moscow's main goals in the ongoing security negotiations.
"We are adamant that NATO's 'joint nuclear mission' must be stopped
immediately, all American nuclear weapons should be returned to US
territory, and the infrastructure that allows for their rapid deployment be
liquidated," he commented, noting that this proposal was included in a list
of security demands that Moscow submitted to the United States. Washington
last December.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his disappointment
with America's response to the proposal. Lavrov said the US had refused to
make concessions on NATO's expansion in eastern Europe.
"The main problem is our clear position on the inadmissibility of further
NATO expansion to the east and the deployment of highly destructive weapons
that could threaten the territory of the Russian Federation," the top
Russian diplomat said.
