Chizhov: comparing nuclear buttons in present-day world is silly and dangerous

Some countries don’t hesitate to break down the arms control system in a bid to "become great again," but it is silly to engage in ‘nuclear button’- measuring contest, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said.

"In 2018, one hundred years after the WWI Armistice, some countries that are seeking to become "great again" have little hesitation when venturing to break down the system of nuclear arms control and strategic stability, which has been built through laborious and painstaking efforts," Chizhov stressed.

"They withdraw from the smoothly working Iran nuclear deal and push their NATO partners towards expanding military spending of the Alliance," the diplomat noted.

"It is silly and dangerous in the present-day world to indulge in comparing the size of their ‘nuclear buttons’ and testing each other for strength," Chizhov warned.

"Security, including European security, can be enhanced only through common efforts," TASS cited him as saying. "The bloc-based approach to security matters is detrimental and defective," Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU is confident.