Last week, the White House claimed Russia had acquired “troubling” anti-satellite weapons capabilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space, insisting that Russia has only developed space capabilities similar to those of the United States.
Putin's statement Tuesday follows the White House's assertion last week that Russia has acquired “troubling” anti-satellite weapons capabilities, although they are not yet operational.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it would violate the International Outer Space Treaty, but declined to comment on whether the weapon was nuclear capable.
The treaty, signed by more than 130 countries including Russia, prohibits the deployment of “nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction of any kind” into orbit or the deployment of “weapons into outer space by any other means.” There is.
The White House said it would consider communicating directly with the Russian side about the concerns.
“Our position is very clear and transparent. We have always been and continue to be firmly opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in space,” Putin said. “Quite the contrary, we are asking everyone to abide by all agreements that exist in this area.”
He called the accusations part of “the turmoil going on in the West.”
Putin said Russia “has repeatedly proposed strengthening joint cooperation between the two countries.” [space] But for some reason, this topic is not brought up again in the West. ”
In a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin pointed out that Russia is only developing space capabilities that “other countries, including the United States,” have.
“And they know it,” he said.
“We have never deployed any nuclear weapons or their elements in space for use against satellites or to create fields in which satellites cannot function effectively,” Shoigu said.
Shoigu said the White House was forcing Congress to support support for Ukraine by raising doubts about Russia's new space capabilities, and Russia is on hiatus amid tensions with the United States over Ukraine. He argued that he could have encouraged Russia to return to nuclear arms control talks.
Putin did not rule out the possibility of future contacts with the United States, but reaffirmed his view that American pressure for Russia's defeat in Ukraine makes such a scenario impossible at the moment. .
“The United States and the West seek Russia's strategic defeat on the one hand, but on the other hand, they pretend that these things are irrelevant and engage in dialogue about strategic stability,” he said. I hope so.” “That won't work.”
