MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. Moscow welcomes US President Donald Trump’s call addressed to Russia, the United States and China for giving up nuclear weapons, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told a news briefing ahead of the third session of the preparatory committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference on Friday.
"In a situation where the role of nuclear weapons in US doctrine-related documents and their gradual transition to a class of weapons that can be used on the battlefield such statements can be only welcomed," he said.
In his opinion this would be possible in the context of universal and complete disarmament.
"Russia has explained its stance more than once: further steps towards nuclear disarmament will require creating a number of prerequisites and taking into account many factors that have a direct impact on strategic stability - from the emergence of a missile defense system and the possibility of weapons deployment in space to fundamental changes in the sphere of conventional weapons, the emergence of cyber weapons and many other factors. This is a most intricate subject. It has not yet been discussed in practical terms at any of the negotiating platforms," Ryabkov said.
He added that Russia was prepared to explain its views to counterparts from the United States and other countries, including the nuclear quintet.