Kremlin insists nuclear weapons are 'foundation' of Russian national security

JAKARTA - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that nuclear weapons are the "foundation" of Russia's national security, according to Russian media Vesti.

Peskov said Russia's nuclear arsenal protects the country from threats to its existence.

"A nuclear power cannot be threatened; its existence cannot be threatened. This gives us the opportunity to be confident in this regard, and this is the basis of nuclear deterrence," he said, launching Anadolu (17/5).

Commenting on relations with Europe, Peskov said the developing discussions within the EU on the possibility of negotiations with Russia marked a "major shift" and were in Moscow's interests.

"Active discussions on this topic (dialogue with Russia), a shift towards the idea that one day we must talk to Russia - this is good," he said, reminding Russia of its responsibility for the failure of dialogue with Europe and its interest in rebuilding relations.

Speaking about the possibility of EU negotiators for talks with Russia, Peskov referred to the Head of EU Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, saying "for the sake of her interest not to be a negotiator with Russia."

"If you remember, (President) Putin said that anyone can be a negotiator who hasn't said a lot of bad things," he said.

Earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin said Russia had developed nuclear capabilities that were "second to none in the world" as Moscow continued to modernize its nuclear deterrent.

President Putin said Russia accelerated the development of advanced weapons systems after the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002.

"That is why Russia began to develop an advanced system that has no equal in the world, which is capable of penetrating existing and upcoming missile defense systems," he said during a video conference with Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergey Karakayev discussing the success of the Sarmat missile test.