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Nuclear weapons free world pie in sky: Analyst

Friday, 08 April 2016 3:40 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 12 April 2016 11:18 AM ]

US President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference at the conclusion of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, April 1, 2016. (AFP photo)

Press TV has interviewed Christopher Walker, ex-Moscow correspondent of The Times in London, to discuss the remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the US government’s failure to destroy its stock of weapons-grade plutonium was a major reason why he refused to take part in the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) held in Washington last week.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Considering the allegations made there by Putin against the US’s refusal to destroy its stock of weapons-grade plutonium, this does cast doubt on Washington’s sincerity when it talks about nuclear security.

Walker: Yes it does, there is no escaping from it; and that is going to cause a lot of concern in the Kremlin, because the US has made a big mistake as it were in trying to promote worldwide nuclear controls in an effort to stop nuclear material finding its way to various terrorist groups. That was one of the main purposes of this summit, and as you say it now won’t happen or did not happen because Putin feels that he has been slighted by the Americans who have not gone along with the 2000 Treaty.

Press TV: Then it does put into question the US’s role when it comes to that goal that many even at the UN have expressed of having a nuclear weapons free world?

Walker: Very much so. It is a bit of pie in the sky, many people think, and of course this also comes at a dangerous time diplomatically when everybody sees from outside the Cold War as it were ... hotting up again and it very much takes place against the background of Kremlin tensions with Washington, which have been growing particularly over Ukraine and the US sanctions imposed on Russia.

Press TV: And before I let you go, when it does come to nuclear security, what is the next step if you have a country like the United States continually saying that it needs nukes for its own national security?

Walker: I am afraid the future is rather grim and in the face of that sort of obdurate determination never to consider giving them up as indeed is the same position in other Western countries notably in Britain, you are not really going to get any sort of great progress. A lot of meetings, a lot of hot air, perhaps, and not even the meetings are taking place it seems.

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