Weapons situation: Russia insists on renunciation of nuclear ambitions by non-nuclear European countries

The risks of the proliferation of atomic weapons in Europe have increased many times, Gennady Gatilov, Russia's permanent representative to the UN office in Geneva, told Izvestia. According to him, non-nuclear countries in the region should abandon nuclear ambitions and participate in joint missions in this area. Gatilov stressed that Moscow is not against dialogue, but its opponents are not ready for a constructive and mutually respectful conversation yet. Earlier, the Finnish government proposed to allow the import and storage of such weapons, and the authorities of Poland and France plan to practice nuclear strikes on Russia and Belarus. Experts believe that Moscow will respond by increasing the capabilities of the Leningrad Military District.

Nuclear proliferation in Europe

Russia has consistently explained its position on the nuclear ambitions of non-nuclear European countries at relevant international venues, Gennady Gatilov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, told Izvestia.

—The withdrawal of American nuclear weapons from European countries, as well as the abandonment of nuclear ambitions by non—nuclear countries, from involvement in the practice of "joint nuclear missions" and "expanded nuclear deterrence," as it seems to us, would make an important contribution to restoring trust and strengthening the architecture of regional security," Gatilov said.

He said that at the Conference on Disarmament, where key military states are represented, Russian representatives give due assessment to the actions of Western states and urge them to abandon anti-Russian and militaristic rhetoric and direct threats against the Russian Federation.

— We do not tire of emphasizing the importance of compliance by all participating States with the "spirit and letter" of the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) as the foundations of international security and stability. However, our opponents are not ready for a constructive, mutually respectful conversation yet," Gatilov stressed.

According to him, the risks of nuclear proliferation in Europe have increased many times in the light of statements and actions by European states, from strengthening coordination and cooperation among NATO member countries in the use of such weapons against a "common enemy" (everyone understands that we are talking about Russia) to the efforts of London and Paris to build their own "pan—European" potential. nuclear deterrence."

At the end of April, the Finnish Government submitted to the Parliament of the republic a proposal to allow nuclear weapons to be imported into the country and stored on its territory. Now this republic is among the nuclear—weapon-free, previously it was non-aligned before joining NATO in 2023. In April, it also became known that Paris and Warsaw were preparing joint bilateral military exercises to practice nuclear strikes on targets in Russia and Belarus.

France previously announced the extension of its "umbrella" to other EU countries. In particular, the appearance of French nuclear weapons carriers — Rafale fighter jets and nuclear submarines — on the territory of non-nuclear European states is not excluded. According to the leader of the Fifth Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden expressed interest in the Paris proposal. Earlier, Izvestia, citing the French Embassy in Moscow, wrote that Paris does not yet have specific plans to deploy its nuclear forces in these countries.

Risks for Russia

Gennady Gatilov stressed that the planned Franco-Polish exercises are one of the elements of Emmanuel Macron's strategy to involve more and more European states in his nuclear adventure. According to him, it is not surprising that the French chose Poland in this case, "whose Russophobic leaders not only do not hide their own nuclear ambitions, but also look for any reason to expand aggressive actions against Russia."

— The presence of nuclear weapons on the territory of non-nuclear states in Europe, including Finland in the future, certainly poses risks to the national security of our state. We have repeatedly called for the withdrawal of American nuclear weapons from Europe with the elimination of the relevant infrastructure," said the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva.

Geographically dense deployment of the nuclear capabilities of NATO countries and high-precision intermediate-range missile systems in non-nuclear equipment is dangerous because these weapons can be used both far into Russian territory and against the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation and the missile attack early warning infrastructure based in the north-western region, an analyst at the Center for Mediterranean Studies told Izvestia. HSE Tigran Meloyan Research Institute.

— Sensitive threats may be created against the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet, the Baltic Fleet, and key radar stations near Olenegorsk and Pechora. The position of Belarus, Russia's closest military ally in the region, is also ambiguous, the expert believes.

Dmitry Stefanovich, a researcher at the IMEMO RAS Center for International Security, told Izvestia that there is indeed a possibility of the appearance of nuclear weapons by France or the United States in Poland or Finland. But this, in his opinion, is unlikely to radically change the "threat map" for the Russian Federation, since high—precision long-range weapons in non-nuclear equipment, which are in service with Warsaw and Helsinki, are already a serious problem today.

— Many capitals believe that the "material dimension" of their allies' nuclear umbrella in the form of advanced deployment of foreign nuclear weapons on their territory can strengthen deterrence. However, at this stage, there is no particular desire on the part of Paris or Washington to carry out such actions on an ongoing basis," Stefanovic said.

How can Moscow respond

The Kremlin previously called Helsinki's plans to allow the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory a "concentrated confrontation." Military exercises by France and Poland may cause irreparable damage to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Russia will take into account the expanding NATO ambitions in the military-nuclear sphere, if this happens, in its military construction and planning, Gennady Gatilov told Izvestia.

— This is all the more relevant in a world without such key international treaties as the ABM Treaty (the Treaty on the Limitation of Missile Defense Systems. — Ed.), the INF Treaty (the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. — Ed.), the START Treaty (Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty. — Ed.), which helped to maintain strategic stability, strengthen trust and reduce the potential for conflict. All of them were undermined or terminated due to the fault of NATO member states," the diplomat stressed.

According to him, this situation once again proves the validity and timeliness of Russia's strengthening defense cooperation with Belarus. It is necessary to unite efforts to ensure the security of our states and peoples in the face of threats from the "collective West."

Recall that back in 2023, Moscow and Minsk agreed to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons in the republic. At the end of last year, a solemn ceremony was held for the deployment of the newest Russian Oreshnik missile system in Belarus.

Dmitry Stefanovich believes that no additional actions are required on the part of the Russian Federation to stop new threats — the Russian strategic deterrence forces, as well as operators of non-strategic nuclear weapons, have repeatedly conducted exercises in the western and northwestern directions, including with the involvement of Belarusian allies.

— The recreated Leningrad Military District plays a special role here, and building up its combat capabilities remains a priority. By the way, one of the responses to the actions of Finland, Poland and France in the Baltic region may be to increase transparency regarding the nuclear potential of the Kaliningrad region, the expert believes.

The possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Finland and Poland complicates the prospects for concluding a new agreement that could replace the START Treaty. Recall that this agreement expired on February 5. The treaty limited only long-range strategic weapons, but the approach of nuclear weapons carriers to Russia's borders forces Moscow to insist on the participation of Great Britain and France in a similar treaty. Paris and London refuse, because they do not want to commit themselves against the background of modernization of their arsenals. Therefore, Moscow can only rely on the power of its own nuclear forces, which, according to Vladimir Putin, have been upgraded by 95%.