States believe Russia is developing a satellite capable of carrying nuclear weapons

Moscow. 25th of April. INTERFAX.RU – In Washington, they believe that the reason for Russia’s veto on the draft resolution prepared by the United States and Japan on the non-placement of nuclear weapons in space is “Moscow’s work on a new satellite capable of carrying a nuclear charge,” said National Security Advisor to the American President Jake Sullivan.

“Russia, according to the United States, is developing a new satellite capable of carrying a nuclear-capable device,” Sullivan said in a statement released by the White House.

According to him, the United States “heard” that Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly stated that Russia does not intend to place nuclear weapons in space.

“If that were the case, Russia would not have vetoed the resolution,” Sullivan said.

Russia believes that the ban should also apply to conventional weapons. Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said: “It is extremely significant that neither during today’s meeting nor earlier the authors of the project were able 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.”

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 weapons systems, in outer space.”

Nebenzya stressed that he will continue to work with the UN 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.

Previously, Russia blocked in the UN Security Council a draft resolution prepared by the United States and Japan on the non-placement of nuclear weapons in outer space.

At the vote, 13 countries supported the project, China abstained. Russia used its veto. According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, “first of all, this was due to the fact that the fundamental amendments we proposed were ignored.” These amendments provided for the inclusion in the text of provisions on the need to take measures to maintain outer space free of weapons of any kind.