Kremlin slams ‘militarization’ over reports of US nukes in UK

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has ruled out a summit of UN Security Council nuclear powers, citing Western policies of escalating tensions

Russia sees no grounds to hold a summit of the ‘Nuclear Five’, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, citing what Moscow views as a deliberate Western policy of escalating tensions and nuclear militarization. 

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Peskov was asked to comment on recent reports that the US had deployed tactical nuclear weapons to the UK for the first time in nearly two decades. Reporters asked whether this would be the right time to revive a summit of the five permanent UN Security Council nuclear powers – Russia, China, the US, UK, and France. President Vladimir Putin had previously proposed such a meeting in 2020. 

“Our relevant agencies are monitoring the developments in this area and are formulating tasks to ensure our security against the backdrop of what is happening,” Peskov replied. 

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However, he emphasized that Moscow does not believe current conditions are suitable for a summit of the group of the five nuclear states. “We see a line towards escalation of tension, towards militarization, including nuclear militarization,” Peskov said.  

Earlier this week, several media outlets, including The Times and The War Zone, reported that the US had deployed B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs to Royal Air Force Lakenheath base in Suffolk. They cited flight tracking data showing a C-17 transport plane flying from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico to the UK last Thursday. Analysts said the flight appeared to be a one-way drop-off.  

If confirmed, this would be the first time since 2008 that US nuclear weapons have been stationed in the UK. RAF Lakenheath hosted such weapons during the Cold War. 

Neither the US Air Force nor British officials have publicly commented on the reported deployment.