Lavrov stresses defensive nature of Russia’s nuclear deterrence policy

Russia’s nuclear deterrence policy is solely defensive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.

“Our nuclear deterrence policy is solely defensive,” he pointed out. “I would like to emphasize that Russia remains committed to the statement that the leaders of the five nuclear powers made on January 3, confirming that nuclear war is unacceptable,” Lavrov added.

According to him, Russia does not accept the West’s threats in relation to the potential use of nuclear weapons but it’s no use debating on the issue. “As for the strong statements about some consequences for Russia, we certainly don’t accept the language of threats. We leave it to the conscience of the Western politicians that make such statements. We have no plans to debate with them on the issue because it’s clearly pointless,” Lavrov affirmed.

West unable to tear Russian economy to pieces

Lavrov went on to say that the West has been and will be unable to tear the Russian economy to pieces.

“They failed to tear the Russian economy to pieces, which is what [former US President Barack] Obama had dreamed of. And they will never be able to do it. What they wanted us to go through is now starting to happen in their countries. A number of European countries are facing sharply rising prices, falling incomes and energy shortages. Political scientists are already talking about a growing threat of social upheavals. The benefits of civilization that they are used to are turning into a privilege for the Europeans. This is the price that common people are paying for their politicians’ Russophobia,” Lavrov pointed out.

Meanwhile, Russia is determined to strengthen its economic and technological sovereignty, establishing alternative financial and logistics chains for foreign trade. “We will continue to boost ties with our partners in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, who, like us, stand for equal cooperation and oppose attempts to politicize trade and economic relations,” the Russian top diplomat clarified.

Lavrov believes it’s possible to break vicious circle in relations with US

Concerning the US-Russian ties, Lavrov said that it’s possible to break the vicious circle in Russia-US relations if Washington abandons its claims to global dominance.

“Is it possible to break this vicious circle? It certainly is. In order to move forward, Washington needs to seriously work on its mistakes and abandon its claims to global dominance. It should also draw conclusions from its failed attempts to interfere in our domestic affairs,” he emphasized.

However, in Lavrov’s words, the Americans have actually “trampled on international law” and “the unwritten taboos in terms of diplomatic practices,” which had existed for decades. “Despite the current geopolitical reality, the US seeks to bring other members of the international community to heel and make everyone follow the rules that it invents,” he noted.

Source: Tass

Edited by Hamda Mustafa