Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a message to participants in a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, stressed that the possibility of nuclear war must be ruled out. According to Lavrov, “as a nuclear-weapon state, Russia recognizes its responsibility for international security, and global and regional stability. We are aware of the impact that the use of nuclear weapons may have.” He continued that “Our country pursues a policy of peace and non-confrontation in international affairs.
“Today, we note with great concern the degradation of the international arms control system, denunciation of treaties, disregard of the principles of undiminished security of states, and a significant increase in nuclear risks. There has been an alarming shift in doctrinal military and political policies towards the idea that it is acceptable to employ nuclear weapons as a means of warfare.
“We need to eliminate the risk of military confrontation between the nuclear powers and rule out the possibility of a nuclear war. We firmly believe that such a war cannot be won and must never be unleashed. We suggest that all nuclear powers officially confirm their commitment to this tenet.”
