Lavrov: US preparing Europe for use of tactical nukes against Russia

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blasted what he calls US efforts to propel Europe towards nuclear confrontation.

Speaking Wednesday at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Lavrov said Washington’s practice of “joint nuclear missions” with NATO allies was leading up to the deployment of American so-called “battlefield nukes” in Europe:

It should be clear to everyone that the US military is thus preparing the armed forces of the European countries for the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Russia.

He also pointed out that Russia has not deployed such weapons, and that such a move by the US would be a serious escalation damaging international security:

In these conditions, the availability of US tactical nuclear weapons ready for use in Europe is not just a rudiment of the Cold War, but a clearly aggressive position.

The minister also expressed his hope that European nations would be able to prevent the the deployment of weapons of mass destruction on their territory – and especially those belonging to a state which is the only one to have ever used them offensively in warfare.