MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax) - The United Kingdom's plans to build up its nuclear stockpiles underscore the need to involve London and Paris in efforts to reduce nuclear weapons, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"As follows from the published document, London has abandoned the previously announced plans to reduce its nuclear arsenal to 180 warheads and is now talking about its more than 40 percent increase to 260 nuclear warheads. All this is certainly presented under the guise of absolutely far-fetched ranting about certain military threats from Russia," she said at a press briefing on Thursday.
This step "is clearly at odds with London's numerous statements on its commitment to the obligations to advance toward nuclear disarmament under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," she said. "Such plans on the part of Britain confirm the growing urgency of taking into account, in promising Russian-American strategic equalization, the fact that the U.S. has nuclear allies who are also building up their nuclear arsenals," Zakharova said.
"The decision of the British leadership underlines the urgent need for the direct involvement of American nuclear allies in efforts to reduce and limit nuclear weapons, which our country is constantly pointing to," she said.