MOSCOW – The Kremlin dismissed a warning by the United States about Moscow’s new nuclear capabilities in space, calling it a “malicious fabrication” and a trick by the White House aimed at getting US lawmakers to approve more money to counter Russia.
The United States has told Congress and allies in Europe about new intelligence related to Russian nuclear capabilities that could pose an international threat, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters.
The new capabilities, related to Russian attempts to develop a space-based weapon, do not pose an urgent threat to the United States, the source said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he would not comment on the substance of the reports until the details were unveiled by the White House. But he said Washington’s warning was clearly an attempt to get Congress to approve more money.
“It is obvious that the White House is trying, by hook or by crook, to encourage Congress to vote on a bill to allocate money, this is obvious,” he told reporters.
“We’ll see what tricks the White House will use.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Moscow’s point man on arms control, accused the United States of “malicious fabrication”, TASS reported.
Russia’s military operation in Ukraine has triggered the biggest confrontation between the West and Russia since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Both Moscow and Washington have warned of the risk of a conflict between NATO and Russia.
Russia and the United States are by the biggest nuclear powers, together holding about 90 per cent of the world’s nuclear weapons. They also both have advanced military satellites orbiting the Earth.
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