Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Thursday that the deployment of nuclear weapons by the United States at European bases is causing concern in Moscow and warned that Russia will respond appropriately to such action. Peskov said Russia’s position on the matter is clear: “We are the advocates of world peace and stability, but, at the same time, our position is that we will not allow our security interests to be violated.”
At the end of March, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed her country’s concern about the US intention to expand its nuclear arsenals in Europe. Zakharova noted that Russia notes with concern recent calls to expand the geography of US nuclear bomb storage in Europe with the advancement of relevant infrastructure towards the borders of the Union States of Russia and Belarus.
The spokeswoman recalled that NATO countries were the ones who introduced the concept of so-called “joint nuclear missions,” which they have pursued for decades, involving US-owned nuclear weapons deployed in countries such as Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.
The statements by Peskov and Zakharova come at a time of increasing tension in Russia-US relations, following military moves by both countries in Europe and elsewhere in the world. In addition, Russia has been the target of economic sanctions by the United States and its allies, which has intensified the confrontation between the two nations.