Russia defends veto of UN resolution to prohibit nukes in outer space, urges vote to ban all weapons

Russia on Monday defended its veto of a UN resolution urging all nations to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space, challenging the U.S., Japan and their western allies to support Moscow's rival resolution calling for a ban on all weapons in space 'for all time.'

Russia on Monday defended its veto of a UN resolution urging all nations to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space, challenging the U.S., Japan and their western allies to support Moscow's rival resolution calling for a ban on all weapons in space "for all time."

Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said the United States and Japan, which sponsored the vetoed resolution, are guilty of of "hypocrisy and double standards." He accused the U.S. and western nations more broadly of planning for the military exploration of outer space, including the deployment of weapons, in particular "strike combat systems."

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood countered, telling the UN General Assembly: "The truth is that Russia currently has several conventional anti-satellite weapons already in orbit, one of which it tested in 2019." He added Russia has threatened to target satellites with weapons, and said there "is credible information that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device."

The verbal clash came on a day that Russia threatened to strike British military facilities and said it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield tactical nuclear weapons. Moscow's actions were a response to comments by senior western officials about possible deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

In February 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to rising tensions with the West over its support for Ukraine by announcing that Moscow was suspending its participation in the New START treaty -- the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States.

The United Nations warned Monday of growing concern about recent increasing talk about nuclear weapons by various parties when asked about Russia's planned drills simulating the use of tactical nukes.

"Current nuclear risks are at an alarmingly high level," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "All actions that could lead to miscalculation, escalation with catastrophic consequences, must be avoided."