Russia Views West’s Quasi‑Indifferent Reaction to Sarmat Tests With Irony — Deputy Foreign Minister
/ Go to the mediabankLaunch of the Sarmat stationary intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.
/ Go to the mediabank
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia views the quasi‑indifferent response of Western countries to Russia’s tests of the Sarmat missile system with irony, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Saturday.
On Sarmat missile system
On Tuesday, Commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces Sergei Karakayev reported to President Vladimir Putin on the successful test launch of the new heavy liquid‑fueled Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. «We did not expect, do not expect and will never expect any reaction from our Western rivals to the testing of certain of our promising systems, systems already in service with us. We understand that for them, every episode, every event of this kind is an excuse to demonstrate quasi‑indifference,» Ryabkov told reporters. Russia regards this stance ironically, the official said. «Because we understand better than others what the forthcoming deployment of this system means. No one today possesses comparable strategic‑range complexes,» he added. Russia will demonstrate its capabilities to cool down hotheads in the West who are playing with the concept of «nuclear umbrellas,» Ryabkov said.Russia does not intend to take any steps that could undermine strategic stability, Sergey Ryabkov said.»It was previously practised; there is nothing unusual in this when events linked to the appearance of strategic‑range systems in the arsenal were not announced only after the fact, but were preceded by certain information exchanges. I am not authorised to disclose the details of this, but I can say that in all such situations Moscow is guided, among other things, by the realisation and understanding that we should not undermine strategic stability,» Ryabkov told reporters.The Sarmat system is guaranteed to defeat all existing and currently developing missile‑defence systems, the official said. Western experts are well aware that no one in the world currently possesses comparable systems, he added.
On Situation Around Cuba
Russia will continue to support Cuba amid the ongoing US blockade of the island, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said.»We stand shoulder to shoulder with Cuba and, I emphasize, are not abandoning our principled line of supporting a state that is historically close to us, that provides Russia with valuable support on international platforms, and with which we interact on many aspects of shaping a new world order,» Ryabkov told reporters.He added that Russia is in constant contact with Cuban leaders and is aware of developments regarding US pressure on the island’s authorities. The dialogue is trusting and substantive, and will certainly continue, Ryabkov said.»We are outraged by the level of cynicism with which the US, on one hand, tightens the blockade, which is absolutely illegal and unacceptable from all points of view, and on the other hand, demonstrates what it considers readiness for dialogue,» Ryabkov stated.
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