MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia accused the United Kingdom and France of threatening the entire nuclear non-proliferation regime after intelligence uncovered that the two countries are preparing to provide Kiev with related weapons.
"This information is extremely important," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, calling it a gross violation of international legal norms, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and saying Russia would factor it into its position in negotiations on Ukraine.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said that London and Paris were considering transferring nuclear weapons or related capabilities to Kiev, as they see little chance of achieving what they describe as victory over Russia through the Ukrainian armed forces alone. The agency added that Germany had declined to join what it called a "dangerous venture."
The agency also said London and Paris are working on arrangements to provide such weapons and delivery systems, including the covert transfer of European nuclear-related components and technologies. ■
