The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Sunday formally requested the convening of a special session of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the announcement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
»The latest announcement by the Russian Federation on the intention to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus is another provocative step by Putin’s criminal regime, which undermines the principles of nuclear non-proliferation treaties, the disarmament architecture on nuclear weapons and the international security systems in general,» the Ministry has made known.
Putin announced the deployment in response to the British announcement of the supply of depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine; a decision that in his view, and contrary to Kiev’s opinion, does not violate Russia’s nuclear control agreements. The Russian president expects that the construction of the tactical nuclear weapons storage facilities will be completed by July 1. These weapons will remain under Russian control.
However, given the seriousness of the announcement, Ukraine has called for immediate international response measures. »Ukraine expects effective action from the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France against Russia’s nuclear blackmail,» the Ministry has asked, »and therefore we request the immediate meeting of the UN Security Council for this purpose.»
Similarly, the Foreign Ministry has asked the G7 and the European Union to warn the Belarusian authorities about the »far-reaching consequences» the Minsk government would face »if it agrees to accept tactical nuclear weapons from Russia on its territory».
»Ukraine calls on all members of the world community to demonstrate to Putin’s criminal regime that its nuclear provocations are categorically unacceptable and to take decisive measures to effectively deter and prevent any possibility of the use of nuclear weapons by the aggressor state,» adds the message, posted on the Ministry’s website.
NATO, »VIGILANT», ACCUSES PUTIN OF DISTORTING THE REALITY OF THE TREATIES In its first response to Putin’s announcement, NATO has limited itself to declaring that it remains »vigilant» without taking any additional measures for the moment, but it has insisted that the Russian president is distorting the reality of the non-proliferation agreements by assuring that he is not committing any violation of them.
Russia’s reference to NATO nuclear exchanges is totally misleading. NATO allies act in full respect of their international commitments,» an Atlantic Alliance spokeswoman told DPA, in which she singled out Putin for his »irresponsible and dangerous» nuclear rhetoric.
The spokeswoman accused Russia of having consistently reneged on its arms control commitments, and recalled that it has recently suspended its participation in the New START Treaty.
Otherwise, »we have not seen any change in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust ours,» added the spokeswoman, who reiterated NATO’s commitment to »protect all its allies».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
