Ambassador Antonov called the US statements about the use of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation absurd

Statements by US senators about Russia’s possible use of tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) in Ukraine are nothing more than absurd speculation. About it declared Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov.

“Speculations about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia are absurd. With such cheap rhetoric, the local elite demonstrates absolute incompetence in the strategic sphere,” he said.

According to the ambassador, American politicians are “haunted” by Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. A draft resolution submitted to the Senate proposing to equate Russia’s hypothetical use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine with an attack on NATO is “another manifestation of blind hatred” for Russia, Antonov said. Washington is thereby trying to impose on the world the point of view that Russia can launch a nuclear strike or destroy a certain nuclear facility, he added.

“Does this phraseology hide the desire to prepare the world for a provocation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, slipping a “dirty bomb” there and blaming, of course, the Russian Federation for all the sins?” the ambassador noted.

Russia, Antonov said, has repeatedly pointed to the immutability of its documents regulating the use of nuclear weapons.

“The conditions for its application remain the same. Russia has been and remains a responsible nuclear power, which, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a special responsibility for peace and international security,” he added.

Earlier on June 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared at the SPIEF plenary session that Russia does not need to use nuclear weapons, but this is theoretically permissible only if the territorial integrity and independence of the state is threatened. He noted that everyone is waiting for Russia to start pushing buttons, but “there is no such need.” Putin explained that this was not necessary, because the enemy on the front line was not successful.

On May 26, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, during a visit to Vietnam, said that Russia could launch a preemptive strike if Ukraine gets nuclear weapons.

At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov noted that Russia had not changed its approach to the use of nuclear weapons in the framework of the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, Russia’s enemies are speculating on this topic and “trying to attribute the missing intentions to use nuclear weapons in connection with what is happening in Ukraine.”