Chemical security

Russia urges US to destroy its chemical weapons stockpile

Russia, which eliminated the last stockpiles of its chemical weapons in September, has called on the United States and other countries to immediately "follow suit" and destroy the arsenals of such weapons. Speaking at a meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control Vladimir Yermakov called this event historic, adding that it should be enshrined in the relevant General Assembly resolution.

"You know that we inherited the world’s largest arsenal of this type of weapons of mass destruction, and we have coped with the task of eliminating it in a worthy manner, thereby once again reiterating Russia’s commitment to strict observance of its obligations under international treaties," the diplomat said. According to Yermakov, the elimination of chemical stockpiles by Russia is "a historic milestone for the entire international community."