Claims that Russia is planning to deploy nuclear weapons in space are merely an attempt by Washington to push Moscow into negotiations on terms set by the US, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
Delivering his annual address to the Federal Assembly, Russia’s national legislature, Putin insisted that statements by American officials about their supposed willingness to reach an agreement with Moscow on nuclear weapons controls are nothing but “demagogy” ahead of the US presidential election.
Putin accused the US of “hypocrisy” over recent “unfounded accusations” that Russia plans to deploy strategic weapons in space, and insisted that such falsehoods are nothing but an attempt by Washington to drag Moscow into negotiations that are exclusively beneficial to the US.
The president noted that Russia offered the US a draft treaty on preventing the deployment of nuclear weapons in space back in 2008, but pointed out that Washington has blocked the proposal ever since.
“They want to show their citizens that they still rule the world. The US will only hold talks with Russia on issues where it is beneficial for America to find an agreement. On issues that are not profitable for them, they will say there is ‘nothing to discuss’ … and will try to inflict a defeat on [Moscow],” Putin stated.
The president stressed that this approach is unacceptable, and that any discussions about global security and stability can only be held if Russia’s national interests and security are taken into account.
“Russia is ready for dialogue with the US on issues of strategic stability. But… we are dealing with a country whose leaders are openly taking hostile actions against us,” Putin said. He questioned how Washington can expect to discuss strategic stability with Moscow while simultaneously trying to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Citing a press release from the US House of Representatives, several American media outlets claimed earlier this month that Russia may have undisclosed anti-satellite capabilities, and that it supposedly plans to deploy nuclear weapons into space.
Moscow has vehemently denied the claims. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has suggested that the rumors were spread in the US media with the goal of pushing Republicans in Congress to approve President Joe Biden’s $60 billion military aid bill for Ukraine.