NATO Works on Scenario of Nuclear Weapons Use Against Russia, European Security
Aug. 10, 2023 (EIRNS)—The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is working on a scenario of using nuclear weapons against Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told TASS on Thursday.
“NATO practices the so-called joint nuclear missions. It means that non-nuclear alliance member states are involved in the military planning of nuclear weapons’ use and their experts are trained how to handle US nuclear munitions,” Galuzin said. “Moreover, the [alliance’s military] drills work out scenarios of its [nuclear weapons] use against our country,” the diplomat stressed.
He added that the United States maintained its nuclear munition storages on the territory of non-nuclear NATO member states since the Cold War era.
The Russian side has repeatedly emphasized that this situation “negatively affects the situation in the sphere of international and European security,” the diplomat continued.
“However, at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July, the West made a number of decisions, including in the sphere of military planning, aimed at strengthening the bloc’s military capabilities and the development of its infrastructure near the borders of the Union State [of Russia and Belarus],” Galuzin stated.
Speaking on the possibility of a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine, he said: “Our principled stance that a comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement is possible only if the Kiev regime stops the hostilities and terrorist attacks, while its Western sponsors stop pumping up the Ukrainian military with weapons.” He added, “The original foundations of Ukraine’s sovereignty — its neutral, non-bloc adherence and non-nuclear status — must be confirmed in order to reach this [conflict] settlement.”
“The new territorial realities must be recognized, the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine and the rights of its Russian-speaking citizens and national minorities must be ensured in accordance with the requirements of international law,” Galuzin added.
“Our stance remains the same, i.e., firstly, to solve systemic problems: reconnection of Rosselkhozbank [Russian Agricultural Bank] to SWIFT, resumption of spare parts deliveries, establishment of transportation logistics and insurance, restoration of Russian companies’ access to their foreign assets,” Galuzin said.
