MOSCOW. June 24 (Interfax) - A Russian Foreign Ministry representative has dismissed claims by the United States military about a possibility of Russia launching a limited nuclear strike against the U.S., and said that the U.S. was possibly intent on using low-yield warheads to exert pressure on nations defying U.S. policies.
On Saturday the ministry issued a comment by its Information and Press Department's Deputy Director Artyom Kozhin over remarks made by Vice Chairman of the U.S. Armed Forces' Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Paul Selva.
"He attempted to justify plans to fit low-yield warheads on some of U.S. ballistic missiles for Trident-P submarines with a mythical threat of Russia carrying out a limited nuclear strike against U.S. territory. According to said military chief, such low-yield warheads are necessary for limited nuclear warfare in the framework of Russia's supposed 'escalation for de-escalation' strategy," the commentary said.
"The general frankly is being disingenuous not only when trying to ascribe to Russia an approach that is not in its Military doctrine. Another obvious lie is the thesis that the use of nuclear weapon can be 'limited' in a clash among nuclear powers.
"The U.S. is perfectly aware that it is impossible to remotely determine the yield of a flying hostile warhead until it explodes. The same missile may in principle carry all kinds of 'filling.' Therefore, any launch against Russia of a strategic carrier of a nuclear weapon spotted by the Russian ballistic missile early warning system will be regarded as an aggression with the use of nuclear weapon with all the consequences it entails in terms of reaction.
"Such claims by U.S. officials are clearly aimed at justifying the expansion of the Pentagon's arsenal with a range of nuclear weapons so as to shore up the projection of its military might globally.
"Apparently, Washington does not mind making low-yield warheads a means of blackmailing the countries opposed to U.S. diktat. Effectively, the threshold for using nuclear weapons is being lowered and they are being turned into a 'weapon of battlefield.'
"In its approaches to nuclear planning, the U.S. is returning to the times of 60 years ago when a 'limited nuclear war' between the superpowers was seen by it as quite possible and leaving chances of winning.
"Apparently, this may explain the increasing signs of Washington's desire to abandon its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty.
"Back in October of last year Russia sent the U.S. a draft joint statement on the unacceptability of a nuclear war and strengthening strategic stability. The absence of consent to its adoption speaks volumes about American intentions.
"Careless handling of nuclear weapon, the destruction of the international arms control system is fraught with catastrophic consequences," Kozhin said.