The Russian Permanent Representative to the UN stated the need to ban any weapons in space

Russia intends to submit a corresponding resolution to the UN Security Council

Moscow. April 24. INTERFAX.RU – Russia has vetoed in the UN Security Council a draft resolution prepared by the United States and Japan on the non-placement of nuclear weapons in space, since it believes that the ban should also apply to conventional weapons, said the Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization Vasily Nebenzya.

“It is extremely significant that neither during today’s meeting, nor earlier, the authors of the project were unable to answer the question of why exactly our proposal does not suit them: to add a call not to place any weapons in space at all,” Nebenzya said, commenting on the Russian veto. as well as the refusal of Security Council members to approve the amendment proposed by the Russian Federation and the PRC to the draft resolution.

The diplomat, speaking about disagreements with the United States on this topic, emphasized that “we want a ban on all weapons in space, not just weapons of mass destruction, but you don’t want that.”

According to Nebenzi, the United States and its allies “some time ago announced plans that include the deployment of weapons, in particular, strike combat systems, in outer space.”

“I would like to state once again for the record: we are ready, even tomorrow, to conclude an international legally binding agreement that would contain a comprehensive ban on the deployment of any types of weapons in outer space, and not just weapons of mass destruction, which are already prohibited by the Outer Space Treaty,” – he said, suggesting that Western countries were not ready to enter into such an agreement.

The Russian permanent representative emphasized that he will continue to work with the Security Council countries on the issue of banning the placement of weapons in space. “We plan to present an alternative draft resolution to the UN Security Council in the near future and begin negotiations on it,” he said.

Earlier, US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at a UN Security Council meeting that she did not understand why Russia vetoed the draft resolution prepared by the US and Japan.

“This is a missed opportunity to restore confidence in the parties’ commitments to arms control,” she said.