Russia to Keep Missile Test Notices Under Cold War-era Deal
Associated Press
Russia will continue to give the U.S. advance notice about its missile tests despite suspending the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the two countries, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s statement reversed one he made Wednesday, when he said Moscow had halted all information exchanges with Washington envisioned under the 2011 New START nuclear pact, including missile test warnings. But Russia intends to stick by its pledge last month to keep notifying the U.S. about missile tests in line with a 1988 U.S.-Soviet agreement, Ryabkov said.
Nuclear Plant at Risk as Ukraine and Russia Gear Up for Spring Offensive
Ian Lovett | The Wall Street Journal
Military activity is increasing around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear-power plant, according to international atomic energy officials, as Ukrainian and Russian forces gear up for an expected increase in fighting this spring. “The situation is not improving—it is obvious that military activity is increasing in this whole region,” Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Wednesday after a visit to the plant. “There’s a significant increase in the number of troops in the region and there is open talk about offensives, counteroffensives and so on.”
Aukus Subs Deal Firms China Support for Asean Nuclear Weapon-free Zone
Laura Zhou | South China Morning Post
China is willing to sign a treaty making Southeast Asia a nuclear weapons-free zone, in Beijing’s latest effort to woo its neighbours and counter Washington’s decision to speed the sale of nuclear-powered submarines and technology to Australia.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang made the pledge at a meeting with Kao Kim Hourn, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in Beijing on Monday. It would make China the first major nuclear power to commit to the zone.
Belarus to Face More Sanctions Over Nuclear Arms Plan, Poland Says
Reuters
Belarus will certainly face further European sanctions due to a Russian plan to station tactical nuclear weapons in the country, Poland's prime minister said on Tuesday, as tensions between Warsaw and Minsk hit new highs. The United States, the world's other leading nuclear superpower, has reacted cautiously to Putin's statement, with a senior Biden administration official saying there were no signs Moscow planned to use its nuclear weapons.
China Says Australia-Britain-US Nuclear Submarine Cooperation May Spark Arms Race
Reuters
Nuclear submarine cooperation between Australia, the United States and Britain may may spark an arms race, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday. "Once 'pandora's box' is opened, the regional strategic balance will be disrupted, regional security will be seriously threatened," said Tan Kefei, a spokesperson at the Chinese defence ministry, during a regular press briefing.
Russia to Upgrade Moscow’s Missile Defenses by Year’s End
Maxim Starchak | Defense News
Russia will finish modernizing the missile defense systems protecting its capital by the end of the year, according to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu…Shoigu made the announcement about Moscow’s defenses at a board meeting of his ministry this month. In 2023, he said, the country will form an air defense division and brigade, a special-purpose air and missile defense brigade, and an anti-aircraft regiment with the S-350 surface-to-air missile complex. Developing aerospace defense capabilities has been a major component of Russia’s State Armament Program since 2020.