February 21, 2024
Putin says Russia doesn’t intend to put nuclear weapons in space
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.
“Our position is quite clear and transparent: we have always been and remain categorically opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in space,” Putin said. “Just the opposite, we are urging everyone to adhere to all the agreements that exist in this sphere.”
The statement came after the White House said that Russia had obtained a “troubling” anti-satellite weapon capability, although the weapon is not operational yet.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said this would violate the international Outer Space Treaty. He did not comment on whether the weapon is nuclear-capable.
The treaty prohibits “nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction” in orbit or the stationing of “weapons in outer space in any other manner.” It has been signed by 130 countries, including Russia.
Putin said that Russia has only developed space capabilities that other countries, including the US, already have. “And they know it,” Putin declared.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said: “We haven’t deployed any nuclear weapons in space or any elements of them to use against satellites or to create fields where satellites can’t work efficiently.”
Shoigu suggested that the White House made the accusations in order to spur Congress to support Ukraine aid and to pressure Moscow into reentering nuclear arms control talks.
Putin said he could enter future talks with the US, but that this was conditional on Washington not aiming for Russia’s “strategic defeat.”
“The US and the West, for one thing, are calling for Russia’s strategic defeat, while, on the other hand, they would like to have a dialogue on strategic stability, pretending that those things aren’t connected,” he said. “It won’t work.”
