The European Union called on Russia “to adhere in word and deed to the Joint Statement of the leaders of the five nuclear powers of January 3, 2022 on the prevention of nuclear war and the avoidance of an arms race.
According to Ukrinform, this is stated in the statement of the EU made during the meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE on Thursday in Vienna.
“Last week, Russia announced plans to conduct non-strategic nuclear exercises with Belarus, the latest in a long line of irresponsible nuclear rhetoric that underscores its consistent undermining of international peace and security, which we strongly condemn. We strongly urge Russia to keep its word and due to the January 2022 Joint Declaration of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear Powers on the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Avoidance of an Arms Race, which states that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the statement reads.
The EU emphasized that both Russia and Belarus must adhere to their international obligations and commitments.
At the same time, the European Union confirmed its ” unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders”.
“We are determined to continue providing Ukraine and its people with all necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, legal, military and diplomatic support for as long as it will be necessary and as intensively as it will be necessary, also taking into account the urgent need to accelerate and intensify the provision of all necessary military assistance to Ukraine in its legitimate self-defense against the Russian aggressor,” the statement said.
As reported by Ukrinform, on May 6, Russia announced that it will conduct training in the near future “in order to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to perform combat missions”.