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Russia hopes Ukraine refrains from steps undermining weapons of mass destruction regime

“We hope that despite the complex political situation in Ukraine and the absence of legitimate top leadership, the leaders of the country will show necessary responsibility,” Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, April 07, 21:00 /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry hopes that the Ukrainian authorities will refrain from steps that can undermine the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) nonproliferation regime.

The ministry has noted media reports about negotiations between Ukraine’s Yuzhmash company with some countries to explore possibilities for selling R-36M2 Voyevoda heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles.

“We hope that despite the complex political situation in Ukraine and the absence of legitimate top leadership, the leaders of the country will show necessary responsibility, will fully comply with the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Hague Code of Conduct and will refrain from steps that can undermine the WMD nonproliferation regime,” the ministry said.

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“As a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime and a signatory to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, Ukraine has serious political obligations and must show special restraint when considering the question of transferring the technology for making missiles capable of carrying a payload of more than 500 kilogram over distances exceeding 300 kilometers,” the ministry said.

“According to the Missile Technology Control Regime guiding principles, the most probable result of this consideration should be the rejection of such transfers. In addition, parties to the Hague Code of Conduct have pledged not to promote, support or help other countries develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction,” the ministry said.

“The Voyevoda ICBM undoubtedly falls under these criteria,” it added.

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