MOSCOW, February 24 /TASS/. Reasonable representatives of the international community are aware of US groundless claims that Russia allegedly intends to deploy nuclear weapons in space, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Saturday.

"The Americans exploit this issue for propaganda purposes and advance groundless accusations that are not backed by any slightest proof. This is their usual manner. Reasonable representatives of the international community have long grown aware of this and cannot treat US accusations of this kind seriously," the senior Russian diplomat said.

Washington needs to change its practical policy to resume dialogue with Russia on strategic stability, he said.

"Their hostile course needs to be changed and then we will see whether it is expedient to discuss this issue with them or not," Ryabkov pointed out.

Some American media outlets reported earlier that the so-called threat to the US national security could be posed by Russia’s alleged plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that these publications were nothing else but another ploy by the White House. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out during a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu that Russia "has always been and is strongly against deploying nuclear weapons in space.".