The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement Wednesday reiterating Moscow's conviction that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, and calling on the nuclear powers to do everything in their power to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction.
"Russia proceeds from the continued relevance of the existing arrangements and understandings in the field of cutting and limiting nuclear weapons, as well as reducing strategic risks and the threat of international incidents and conflicts fraught with escalation to the nuclear level. We fully affirm our commitment to the joint statement of the leaders of the five nuclear weapon states on preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms races of January 3, 2022," Moscow stressed.
"We are strongly convinced that in the current complicated and turbulent situation, caused by irresponsible and impudent actions aimed at undermining our national security, the most immediate task is to avoid any military clash of nuclear powers," the Foreign Ministry added.
Moscow urged the other members of the nuclear five (the United States, France, the United Kingdom and China) to "demonstrate in practice" their readiness to work to "solve this top-priority task" of deescalation and to "give up the dangerous attempts to infringe on one another's vital interests while balancing on the brink of a direct armed conflict and encouraging provocations with weapons of mass destruction."
The latter could lead to "catastrophic consequences," the ministry warned.
Moscow reiterated the gist of Russia's nuclear doctrine, which allows for nuclear weapons to be used "exclusively in response to an aggression involving the use of weapons of mass destruction or an aggression with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy."
The Foreign Ministry called for a revamped international security architecture based on the principles of strategic stability, equal rights among states, indivisible security and a mutual understanding of nations' core security interests.
Ukraine, Asia, Korea Tensions
The Foreign Ministry's statement comes amid the continued escalation of tensions between Moscow and NATO over Ukraine, with the Russian side warning that Kiev may be preparing to use a 'dirty bomb' to accuse Russia of using tactical nuclear weapons. It also comes amid reports last week that Washington has accelerated the deployment of modernized B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs at NATO bases across Europe.
Nuclear tensions are also rising in the Asia-Pacific region, with China warning the US against ramping up regional anxieties following reports that Washington is considering the deployment of nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bombers in Australia. "The relevant US behaviors have increased regional tensions, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a statement Monday.
The strategic situation has also deteriorated on the Korean Peninsula, with the North Korean military reportedly launching up to 17 missiles and firing 100 artillery shells on Wednesday amid joint US-South Korean drills. North Korea has slammed Washington as the "chief culprit in destroying peace and security," and warned that it would give a "powerful response" if Washington "continually persists in the grave military provocations" near its borders. The country unveiled a new nuclear doctrine in September allowing for nuclear weapons to be used in the event of an imminent enemy nuclear or "fatal" conventional attack.