Russia insists on total ban of nuclear drills in non-nuclear states

Russia insists on introducing a complete ban on military exercises related to the use of nuclear weapons in non-nuclear states, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, Global Times reported.

"A complete ban should be introduced on any drills related to honing skills of using nuclear weapons by troops of non-nuclear states", Ryabkov said.

The diplomat added that Washington had not responded to Russia's proposal to issue a joint statement on the avoidance of a nuclear war.

Ryabkov stressed that the US handing over its nuclear weapons to non-nuclear states goes against the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

"This… creates additional obstacles for nuclear disarmament. This problem can have only one solution — the return of all US nuclear weapons to the US, a ban on their use abroad and demolition of the infrastructure that allows using these weapons fast", Ryabkov said.