Russia's Patrushev says Moscow is committed to preventing nuclear war

Russia is committed to the principle of the inadmissibility of nuclear war and military confrontation between nuclear powers, head of the Russian Security Council said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting of secretaries of national security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in New Delhi, Nikolai Patrushev said Russia is convinced of the need to prevent any military confrontation between nuclear powers.

He, however, warned that the West's "provocative behavior" in Ukraine may lead to "catastrophic consequences," as it contradicts the joint statement of the five nuclear states made on Jan. 3, 2022, reiterating the inadmissibility of nuclear war.

"Russia, for its part, remains fully committed to this statement and, in accordance with its content, is convinced of the need to prevent any military confrontation between nuclear-weapon states," Patrushev stressed.

On Jan. 3, 2022, the leaders of the five nuclear powers that are permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Russia, the UK, China, U.S., and France -- adopted a joint statement, saying they consider it their primary responsibility to prevent war between nuclear states and reduce strategic risks, and expressed confidence that there can be no winners in a nuclear war, and therefore it should never be unleashed.

Last week, the UK announced it will supply Ukraine with ammunition containing depleted uranium.

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would "respond accordingly" and later declared it will deploy tactical nuclear carriers in Belarus.