DISINFO: The UN ignores the threat of nuclear war from Ukraine
SUMMARY
Sergei Lavrov recently said that the fact that the armed forces of Ukraine had F-16 fighter aircrafts capable of carrying nuclear weapons would be considered by Russia as a nuclear threat from Western countries. On the one hand, the UN started talking about the nuclear threat, but at the same time deliberately did not mention the prohibition of sending carriers of nuclear weapons [F-16] to the zone of military conflict.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, accusing Ukraine’s allies and partners of seeking a direct confrontation and, possibly, a nuclear war with Russia. This claim was made in the context of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine and of announcements about the provision of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by its supporters.
Ukraine does not have any nuclear weapons in its arsenal, having given them up under the 1994 Budapest memorandum. Russia knows this very well, since Russia participated in the nuclear disarmament of Ukraine. The constant visits of IAEA inspectors to Ukrainian nuclear facilities proved that Ukraine is not engaged in the development of nuclear weapons.
The F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine will receive from Western partners do not carry a "nuclear threat" and are not a "nuclear escalation." The appearance of such aircraft in service with the Ukrainian army means a significant strengthening of the Ukrainian air defence system and, in fact, requires the adoption of NATO standards by the Ukrainian air forces. That is why Russia is so actively promoting the “danger” of the use of the F-16 fighter jets by Ukraine.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear facilities risks provoking the emergence of a nuclear catastrophe. These threats that were discussed at the UN meeting timed to coincide with the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Chairman of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi stressed that Russia regularly threatens to use nuclear weapons in its aggressive war against Ukraine and called on the Kremlin to stop such statements.
Ambassador, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Silvio Gonzato also noted that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has significantly increased the level of danger of a nuclear catastrophe in the world. Gonzato stressed that Russia must immediately cease its war of aggression, unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders.
The aggressive rhetoric of Russia, which not only threatens to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, but also declares its intention to resume nuclear testing, was noted by US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins. The Ambassador stressed that Russia is neglecting the legally binding ban on testing nuclear explosive devices.
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