Russia Will Not Discuss China’s Initiative on Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons with the USA

Russia will not discuss China’s initiative regarding the treaty on the non-use of nuclear weapons by the five nuclear states (Russia, Great Britain, China, the USA, and France) with the United States. This was stated by Vladimir Ermakov, director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in an interview with TASS.

“We do not need to discuss what you mentioned (the non-use of nuclear weapons - ed. TASS) with the USA or any other initiative from China. There is no basis for this. We are well aware of the reaction of the USA and its European allies to such ideas; they categorically do not satisfy the western nuclear 'troika,’ which aims to maintain maximum 'freedom of action' regarding the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons,” stated Ermakov.

“Their refusal to accept Beijing's initiatives is disguised by expressing skepticism about the 'sincerity' of China, arguing that there are no reliable grounds for trusting China's doctrinal provisions. Russia has also repeatedly encountered Western narratives about our doctrinal approaches,” the diplomat said.

“As for the essence of the initiative, it traditionally appears in the speeches of Chinese representatives at various international forums. We respect any initiatives from China in the field of security and study them carefully. In this case, this is a matter of an idea that should be viewed in the overall context of geopolitical realities and its interconnection with other significant factors affecting international security and strategic stability,” noted the head of the department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“This approach seems all the more justified to us against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the nuclear 'five’ states,” added Ermakov.