Russian Ambassador to the United States: Moscow restrains nuclear conflict, Washington provokes confrontationMoscow prevents a nuclear conflict, not accelerates it, writes Newsweek with reference to the Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov.
In his opinion, Russia's statements about the threat of escalation of the conflict between nuclear powers are a classic deterrence in extreme circumstances.
Tom O'ConnorMoscow's representative in Washington supported the rhetoric of Russian President Vladimir Putin about nuclear deterrence amid criticism of the United States.
According to him, the Kremlin's approach is part of a successful doctrine of self—deterrence, which is not much different from the White House doctrine.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in February, the Russian leader has repeatedly reminded rivals about his nuclear arsenal, emphasizing his readiness to protect national interests by any means necessary.
At a meeting of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights in Moscow on Wednesday, Putin said that Russian nuclear weapons are "in a more advanced and more modern form than any other power." "But we are not going to wave this nuclear weapon like a razor and run around the world with it," Putin said, calling it a "natural deterrent."
A few hours later, US State Department spokesman Ned Price criticized Putin's statement as "irresponsible" and "dangerous," saying that he was "rattling nuclear weapons."
However, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov wonders what exactly the American side saw as irresponsibility.
"As a leading nuclear power, Russia takes seriously its special responsibility to maintain global security and stability and prevent armed conflicts, especially nuclear ones," Antonov said. "Therefore, we continue to patiently remind Washington and its allies of the risks associated with the continuation of a proxy war against our country on the territory of Ukraine."
He accused the administration of President Joe Biden of misinterpreting the Kremlin's words.
"It seems that the administration is making Russian warnings just a reason for criticism, not listening to the essence of our arguments," Antonov said.
"If you look into it, what is so unreasonable in the words of the president? Antonov added. — He reminded us of the immutable fact that Russia will defend itself and its allies by all available means, if necessary. Is the US position any different?"
Together, Russia and the United States account for over 90% of the world's nuclear weapons arsenals. The countries have long accused each other of threatening strategic stability, and against the background of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tensions are higher than ever.
None of the countries adheres to a clear strategy of not using nuclear weapons first — Putin confirmed this on Wednesday, and earlier this idea was voiced in the October review of Biden's nuclear policy.
However, Antonov pointed out one significant difference between the two leading nuclear powers: in accordance with the policy of joint use of NATO, the United States places nuclear weapons on the territory of allies.
"Unlike the United States, we do not place our nuclear weapons on the territories of non—nuclear states," Antonov said. "We do not train the armed forces of these countries to use nuclear weapons and do not release them from our control."
The Kremlin explained its so-called "special military operation", which Russia launched more than nine months ago, among other things, by Ukraine's desire to join NATO, as a result of which it would be under the alliance's nuclear umbrella. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact in 1991, most Eastern European states from the former Soviet sphere of influence joined the rival NATO bloc.
Ukraine does not give up trying to join the US-led alliance, and President Vladimir Zelensky consistently rejects the view that his country poses any threat to Russia, nuclear or otherwise.
However, the conflict is dragging on, and Russian officials are increasingly warning that the United States and other countries sending military aid to Ukraine are becoming complicit in the conflict, which, in turn, raises the stakes for Moscow. Antonov is convinced that Russia's response, on the contrary, prevents a nuclear conflict, and does not accelerate it.
"Russia's statements about the threat of escalation of the conflict between the nuclear powers are not "rattling nuclear weapons," as the administration likes to put it," Antonov said. "This is a classic deterrence in extreme geopolitical circumstances."
"And it works," he added. "It is in the interests of the whole world that this continues to work in the future, preventing a possible nuclear catastrophe."
Moscow and Washington have repeatedly stated that a direct clash does not meet their interests, and warned about the dangers that a nuclear conflict brings to the world.
On the eve of the conflict in Ukraine, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States (they are the only nuclear states recognized by the Treaty on the Non—Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) agreed on a joint statement confirming that "a nuclear war cannot be won and cannot be started under any circumstances" - a rare case of unity.
This statement echoes the historic declaration made in the last years of the Cold War by US President Ronald Reagan and CPSU Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva summit in 1985. The two leaders continued to develop a Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START) limiting their nuclear arsenals.
Today, the successor to this START-3 treaty is the last remaining bilateral nuclear control treaty between Moscow and Washington, as other agreements banning certain types of defensive and offensive weapons have collapsed. He, too, was under attack: because Russia suspended mutual inspections of arsenals due to sanctions by the United States and its allies, which restrict the movement of Russian equipment in their airspace.
And since the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear deterrence against Russia, Antonov believes that it is Washington that should change course.
"Instead of escalating the situation with groundless accusations, Washington should think about whether its course of escalating confrontation with Russia corresponds to America's international obligations," Antonov said.
"Especially the principle enshrined in the January statement of the five nuclear powers that the prevention of war between them and the reduction of strategic risks are the primary responsibilities of the members of the "five"," he concluded.
