Regarding the upcoming Russian military exercises held to practice for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, we would like to point out that these drills should be viewed in the context of the recent militant statements made by Western officials and the highly destabilising actions taken by several NATO countries to increase military pressure on the Russian Federation and create additional security threats to our country in connection with the conflict in Ukraine and the situation around it.

The matter concerns above all the open declaration of support for and the provision of direct assistance to the terrorist attacks against Russia carried out by the Kiev regime with the use of increasingly more advanced Western weapons provided to it. Since these strikes often deliberately target civilian facilities, they cause numerous civilian casualties. However, the sponsors of the Kiev junta, who continue to instigate it to new crimes, are perfectly comfortable with this. In particular, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and representatives of several other NATO countries have openly said that Ukraine has a right to use the weapons they supply to strike targets on the Russian territory.

Apart from the British and French long-range missiles, which have long been used in Ukraine, we have taken special note of the models of US-made ATACMS missiles, which have been recently sent to Ukraine and are capable of reaching targets inside Russia.

At the same time, attempting to build up multifaceted missile threats to Russia, the United States has openly and manifestly launched the deployment of ground-based intermediate- and shorter-range missiles, which were previously prohibited under the INF Treaty, around the world. Having rejected Russian initiatives on maintaining the viability of that treaty, including by settling mutual concerns on the basis of reciprocal verification measures, Washington deliberately destroyed the treaty, which had for years been a pillar of international security and strategic stability. After that, the United States immediately revitalised the creation and testing of that class of missiles and started forming special region-specific military units and working on the establishment of the relevant infrastructure. Today, the United States is deploying these missile systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region, allegedly for the duration of military exercises held jointly with its allies, which shows that the manufacturing and testing of these weapons are in full swing.

We hereby expressly declare that we reserve the right to respond in kind, no matter where US-made intermediate- and shorter-range missiles are deployed, which would amount to the termination of Russia’s unilateral moratorium on the deployment of these weapon systems. In reply to US actions, Russia will step up the upgrade and start manufacturing similar missile systems. This would not take long, taking into account the previously announced R&D projects and progress in the Russian defence industry. If a deployment decision is taken, we reserve the right to deploy these weapons at our discretion.

The US-made F-16 multirole fighters are expected to be deployed in the Ukrainian war theatre soon. Russia has pointed out on numerous occasions that we cannot disregard the fact that the F-16 is a “dual-capable” aircraft that can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. The aircraft of this class formed the core of the pool used for NATO’s “joint nuclear missions.” No matter the modification of these aircraft, we will regard them as nuclear-capable and will view this action by the United States and NATO as a deliberate provocation.

In this connection, we have taken special notice of the Polish leaders’ statements that Warsaw has deliberately and in practical terms asked Washington to consider deploying nuclear weapons in Poland.

We regard the statements made by President of France Emmanuel Macron about the possibility of sending French and other NATO troops to Ukraine as completely irresponsible and careless. Moreover, the Western media have reported that a number of mercenaries from the French Foreign Legion are already in Ukraine. This can only be regarded as evidence of the readiness and intent to enter into direct confrontation with Russia, which would amount to a head-on military clash between nuclear powers. We have taken note of a number of France’s actions, including military exercises and other activities, which are likely designed to fortify Macron’s statements with the demonstration of Paris’s nuclear capability.

These and several other actions by NATO countries actually show that they are deliberately trying to escalate the Ukrainian crisis all the way to an open military confrontation between NATO countries and Russia within the framework of their hostile policy of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia.

We hereby place on record that the NATO countries’ aggressive striving to undermine the security of the Russian Federation is gaining momentum. We would like to remind everyone in this connection that the guaranteed protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country is the top priority of Russia’s military security policy, including its nuclear deterrence aspects.

The Kiev regime and its Western masterminds should at long last admit that their reckless steps are pushing the situation ever closer towards the explosive tipping point. The military risks this is creating and the ensuing threats to our country have clearly been outlined in the Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation and the Basic Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence.

The above views served as the basis for the decision to hold military exercises involving part of our nuclear deterrence units and resources, which should send a sobering signal to the West and its puppets in Kiev.

We hope that these drills will cool the hot heads in Western capitals, open their eyes to the potential catastrophic consequences of the strategic risks they are generating, and stop them from supporting the Kiev regime’s terrorist attacks and from becoming involved in a direct military confrontation with Russia.