Lavrov: Russia will not sign the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons

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ASTANA, March 17 (Itar-Tass) - RIA Novosti. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's position on the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons - it will not sign this document.

"We will not sign it, because we believe that the prohibition of nuclear weapons in such a directive is not realistic.The five official nuclear powers, and the unofficial nuclear powers will not do this," Lavrov said in an interview with the Republican Television and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

According to Russia, the agreed principle of progress towards a nuclear-free world is already reflected in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and is "linked to ensuring universal security and stability."

"New factors that affect the global environment, such as non-nuclear strategic weapons, American plans to bring weapons into space, the notorious global missile defense system, the non-entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, primarily because the United States does not want to do it, have no less effect on strategic stability than nuclear weapons, and therefore we are in favor of moving towards a nuclear-free world on the basis of those universal agreements that are fixed in the to stipulate the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons ", - Lavrov said.

The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons was adopted by the UN in July 2017. The nuclear powers did not participate in the development of the document, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the United States and Russia.

Since September 20, 2017 the contract is open for signing. It must enter into force after it is ratified by at least 50 countries. To date, 57 states have signed the document, five have ratified it.

Link: https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20180317/1516592142.html