Web-site of the Council for Foreign and Defenсe Policies, 17.07.2023

Photo: Alexei Arbatov, member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and political scientist Sergei Karaganov, the author of an article about the need for a preventive nuclear strike on Europe / Photo by Vitaly Belousov, RIA Novosti

Members of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policies issued an official statement condemning calls on the possible launching a nuclear war which were published in the media. Three members of the Yabloko party – Academician Alexei Arbatov, member of the Yabloko’s Federal Political Committee, Major General Vladimir Dvorkin and military expert Sergei Oznobishchev – are among the signatories of this document.

Here goes the text of the statement in full:

ON THE CALLS TO UNLEASH NUCLEAR WAR

Recently, there have emerged speeches and statements, including those done by some members of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policies, which promote, albeit with numerous reservations, the idea of a preventive nuclear strike by Russia in the event of a negative scenario for the development of military operations in Ukraine and adjacent territories. Moreover, their authors do not limit themselves to the flight of imagination about the use of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine, but also propose to strike at the key NATO countries.

We are well aware of the results of old and modern studies of the possible damage resulting from such a war. It is the height of irresponsibility to hope that a limited nuclear conflict can be controlled and prevented from escalating into a global nuclear war. This means that destruction of dozens and perhaps even hundreds of millions of people in Russia, Europe, China, the USA, and other countries is at stake. This is a direct threat to humanity in general.

For our country, destroyed in the course of such a catastrophe, and our people, disorganised by such a war, this would also mean the prospects of losing sovereignty under the pressure of the surviving peoples of the South.

It is unacceptable when pseudo-theoretical reasoning and emotional statements in the style of the so-called “talk shows” are forming such moods in society that may push for the adoption of disastrous decisions.

These are no longer theoretical concepts. This is not only a direct threat to the whole of humanity, but also a very specific proposal to kill everyone who is dear to us and whom we love.

We, the members of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policies, consider such proposals absolutely unacceptable and unreservedly condemn them.

No one should ever blackmail humanity with the threat of using nuclear weapons and, moreover, give the command to use them in combat.

We invite all members of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policies to join this Statement.

Signed by members of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policies:

Anatoly Adamishin

Alexei Arbatov

Nadezhda Arbatova

Alexander Belkin

Georgy Bovt

Veronika Borovik-Khilchevskaya

Alexander Vysotsky

Alexander Golts

Vladimir Gurevich

Vladimir Dvorkin

Sergei Dubinin

Vitaly Dymarsky

Alexander Zakharov

Pavel Zolotaryov

Svyatoslav Kaspe

Lev Koshlyakov

Ilya Lomakin-Rumyantsev

Vladimir Lukin

Sergei Mndoyants

Alexander Muzikantsky

Arkady Murashyov

Sergei Oznobishchev

Vladimir Rubanov

Dmitry Rurikov

Yevgeny Savostyanov

Vladimir Entin

Igor Yurgens

Sergei Tsyplyaev

ALEXEI ARBATOV

is a member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko. Head of the Centre for International Security of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Doctor of Historical Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences