Russia’s foreign ministry has commented further on the tactical nuclear weapons drills, according to Reuters. It reported the ministry saying it was hoped they would cool down “hotheads” in the west who Moscow said were pushing for a direct military confrontation between Nato and Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry mentioned remarks by the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the delivery of US ATACMS long-ranges missiles to Ukraine.
“They are deliberately leading the situation towards a further escalation of the Ukrainian crisis towards an open military clash between Nato countries and Russia,” the foreign ministry said.
Russia said on Monday it would practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons as part of a military exercise after what the Moscow said were threats from France, Britain and the United States.
“We hope that this event will cool down the ‘hotheads’ in western capitals,” the foreign ministry said.
Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billström, said Russia’s planned nuclear drills “contribute to increasing instability”.
“In the current security situation, Russia’s actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless,” Billström told Swedish news agency TT.
The drills were announced on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fifth term in office and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in the second world war.
