MOSCOW, October 17. /TASS/. Russia believes that ideas of a shortcut to a "nuclear zero," which implies an immediate abandonment of nuclear weapons and declaring them illegal, are counterproductive, Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry Oleg Postnikov said.
"Russia remains committed to the ideals of nuclear disarmament in the comprehensive manner, as envisaged by provisions of the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]. It unconditionally remains our key legal benchmark and foundation for implementing efforts in this domain," he said in his October 16 address to the First Committee of the 81st UN General Assembly, published by the Russian foreign ministry.
"Real progress on this path may be achieved only through carefully balanced, step-by-step measures that do not jeopardize anyone’s security and help reinforce global stability," the Russian diplomat continued. "Ideas of a shortcut to ‘nuclear zero,’ which imply an immediate and unconditional abandonment of nuclear weapons along with arbitrarily outlawing them, we view as unrealistic and counterproductive."
"Attempts to artificially establish disarmament deadlines, especially in the current turbulent and unpredictable international situation, are equally unfeasible. We are firmly convinced that disarmament initiatives should correspond to the military, political and strategic context," Postnikov added.
In his words, a serious obstacle to further reductions of nuclear arsenals are doctrinal positions and military programs of Western powers and their allies. They are aimed at "gaining overwhelming military superiority" and are therefore deeply destabilizing.
"Russia is open to seeking mutually acceptable dialogue solutions aimed at comprehensive stabilization of the strategic situation, provided that appropriate prerequisites are established for a truly equal interaction among nuclear powers, based on mutual respect to each other’s core security interests," Postnikov said.