MOSCOW: The Kremlin has labeled discussions in the West about potentially arming Ukraine with nuclear weapons as “absolutely irresponsible,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday. His remarks follow a report by The New York Times that cited unidentified Western officials suggesting the possibility of the United States providing Ukraine with nuclear arms before President Joe Biden’s term ends.
The report highlighted that some officials proposed the return of nuclear weapons to Ukraine, which had relinquished them after the Soviet Union’s collapse. While such a step could serve as a powerful deterrent, The New York Times noted it would be fraught with complexities and far-reaching consequences.
Peskov condemned these ideas as “irresponsible arguments” made by anonymous individuals detached from reality. He further urged the West to heed President Vladimir Putin’s statements and study Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, which recently lowered the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons.
In a separate statement, Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin opposed merely freezing the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a “solid and long-term peace” addressing the root causes of the crisis.
Russia Expels British Diplomat for Alleged Espionage
In another development, Russia expelled British diplomat Edward Wilkes on Tuesday, accusing him of espionage. Wilkes, identified as a second secretary at the British embassy in Moscow, allegedly provided false information upon entering the country.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed to have discovered Wilkes engaged in activities threatening national security under the guise of diplomatic work. The diplomat’s photo was broadcast on Russian state media, and the Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador in protest.
There has been no immediate response from the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office regarding the allegations.
These developments mark the latest chapter in escalating tensions between Russia and Western nations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and accusations of covert intelligence operations.
