Speaking at the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in New York on Friday, Ulyanov stated that the US proposal to reduce the total number of deployed warheads by a third is based on their understanding that they will remain able to adequately defend themselves and their allies. Unfortunately, the official noted, "US actions have led to the appearance of completely contradictory factors which, in some circumstances, may even push Russia to begin increasing [its nuclear arsenal]."
Ulyanov clarified that "at the moment, we are not planning to do so, but what is being done by the Americans makes it very difficult, and maybe impossible, to see real prospects for further steps toward nuclear disarmament."
Ulyanov emphasized that Russia would continue to fulfill all its obligations under the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms. He noted that during the previous Review Conference, held in 2010, Russia had a total of 3,900 nuclear warheads. "Today, five years later, we have 1,582 warheads. This constitutes a reduction of two and a half times," the diplomat highlighted.
Last month, Ulyanov stated that Russia is prepared for a dialogue on the question of nuclear disarmament, although it must be serious and devoid of what he called "double standards."
