US denounces Russia’s ‘cynicism’ for blocking UN text on nuclear disarmament

The United States on Sunday denounced Russia’s “cynical obstructionism” after Moscow prevented the adoption of a joint declaration on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) after lengthy international negotiations in United Nations.

“After several weeks of intense but productive negotiations, Russia has single-handedly decided to block reaching consensus on an outcome document,” Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said at the end of the NPT review conference.

And all this with the sole purpose of “blocking language that simply recognizes a serious radiation risk at a nuclear power plant in the United States.” Zaporozhye in Ukraine”occupied by the Russian army,” the statement said.

Nuclear power plant

Zaporozhye plant, the largest in Europewas taken Russian troops in early March, shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24, and is located close to the front lines in the southeast of the country.

Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of committing bombardment near the plant, and its operator warned on Saturday of the risk of radioactive leaks and fires.

at headquarters United Nations in New York on August 1 for a scheduled review every five years.

But Russia blocked a joint statement on Friday, condemning “some overtly political paragraphs” in the final draft text.

“Despite the cynical obstructionism Russia“The fact that all other parties supported the final document demonstrates the important role of the treaty in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons,” Patel said.

Austria, a neutral and non-nuclear country, on Saturday condemned the position of the major powers during the negotiations, and not only Russia.

“Contrary to the disarmament obligations enshrined in the NPT, the five nuclear powers -US, France, China, UK and Russia- increase or improve their arsenals,” the Austrian government said in a statement.

Vienna highlighted the lack of “perceptible willingness to honor previously unfulfilled treaty obligations” on the part of the five countries with veto power in the Security Council. UN.

AFP