Russia demands US nuclear weapons in Europe be removed

US nuclear weapons must be removed from Europe and returned to the territory of the United States, Andrey Belousov, deputy head of the Russian delegation to the UN said, RIA Novosti reports.

According to Belousov, the infrastructure for the deployment of US weapons in Europe must be eliminated.

"US nuclear weapons must return to their national territory, the infrastructure for their deployment in Europe must be eliminated, and NATO must stop the practice of joint nuclear missions,” he said.

Belousov also stressed that Russia's only response to certain external threats is to possess nuclear weapons.

"The development of the situation in Eastern Europe confirms the validity of our concerns. Grossly violating the principle of equal and indivisible security, NATO has relied on harmful expansion in order to weaken Russia,” he added.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States would consider using its nuclear arsenal only under emergency circumstances. This includes the need to protect the vital interests of the United States, its allies and partners Blinken explained.