Russia says nuclear weapons the ‘only’ guarantee against global war

Russia's presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, declared on Wednesday that nuclear weapons are the sole safeguard preventing a global conflict. He asserted that the world's security system is deteriorating, leaving nuclear deterrence as the only remaining protection.

Peskov's remarks come amid concerns of a new international arms race, particularly following the expiration of the New START treaty in February. This treaty, the last remaining arms control accord between Russia and the United States, had limited both nations to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads each. Despite agreement to resume high-level military talks, there have been no indications of efforts to renew or replace the accord.

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In fact, we have nothing left in this world apart from nuclear deterrence. It’s the only thing that protects the world from a global war.

President Vladimir Putin has consistently employed nuclear rhetoric throughout Russia's offensive in Ukraine. This has led to accusations of reckless saber-rattling from European and American officials. The United States, under former President Donald Trump, had pushed for a new treaty that would include China, but Beijing has rejected this proposal. Moscow, in turn, has argued that if China is included, then so should be the nuclear capabilities of Washington's allies, Britain and France.

The lapse of the New START treaty marks the first time in decades that no treaty has been in effect to limit the deployment of nuclear weapons. Both Russia and the United States had previously accused each other of violating the terms of the agreement before its expiration.

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As technology is developing, it is already clear that new types of non-nuclear weapons will emerge, but they may eventually match nuclear weapons in destructive power.