Moscow reiterated the ugly problem of US biological warfare laboratories in Ukraine, but also in several other locations on Russia’s borders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: “Unfortunately, we have a very strong reason to believe, and there is strong evidence, that the United States has been developing biolab programs on the territory of various countries around the Russian Federation, including the territory of Ukraine. This is quite a sophisticated and quite dangerous biolab program that was led top secret by American specialists... This is the reality that we are facing.” In contrast, in accordance with international agreements, Russia had entirely completed, by 2017, the elimination of its stockpile of both chemical and biological weapons, in accordance with international agreements.
Washington, DC remains in a dangerous denial. Not only has there been a complete refusal to even deny the documents the Russian Department of Defense has made public, but the mere raising of the issue of such militarily-related research at the biological labs is treated simply as evidence of Russian intent to launch a chemical and/or biological assault. Previously, on March 21, President Biden reflected the quality of briefing he’s been receiving: “Now [Putin’s] talking about new false flags he’s setting up including, asserting that we in America have biological as well as chemical weapons in Europe, simply not true. They are also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. That’s a clear sign he’s considering using both of those.”
In Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov called on the US to complete the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile as called for by the Chemical Weapons Convention. “Unlike Russia, the United States still has not destroyed its chemical weapons stockpiles. It has been said that there are no such weapons in Europe, but they remain in the United States and the pace of their elimination is extremely slow. We have repeatedly stressed that the reason behind the United States’ slow pace regarding the disposal of its chemical weapons arsenal is unclear for us, and is being done in an artificial manner, despite [Washington] having every resource, including technological, financial and many others.”
Of note, the Arms Control Association, citing US Army and OPCW documentation, reported on March 14 that, while the US has verifiably destroyed a total of 26,606.252 metric tons of priority Category 1 chemical weapons, which is 95.81% of the total declared stockpile, it still has on hand are 418.4 metric tons of mustard agent (at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado), and just under 300 metric tons of VX nerve agent (at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Kentucky).
