CND Press Digest: Tuesday 28th February 2023

War In Ukraine/NATO

• A photo gallery with photos from the weekend’s peace in Ukraine demo is now on our website. I’ll be updating with more submitted images later today and sharing on social media.
• Vladimir Putin said in an interview on Russian TV at the weekend, that the UK and France had joined the US in targetting his country with nuclear weapons. “In today’s conditions, when all the leading NATO countries have declared their main goal to inflict a strategic defeat on us, to make our people suffer … how can we not take into account their nuclear capabilities? Moreover, they supply weapons to Ukraine worth tens of billions of dollars.”
• Britain’s National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow said Russian nuclear threats will not deter the UK government’s support for Ukraine: “We are not going to be deterred, we are going to be very clear about our support for Ukraine and ourselves call out and push back on reckless escalation language.”
• Beyond Nuclear on the threats facing Ukraine’s nuclear plants. 

New START

• US Under-Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins saidRussia’s suspension of the New START treaty proved it was “not a responsible nuclear power.”
• That’s as Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia won’t return to New START until the US listens to Moscow’s position. “The security of one country cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of another,” he added.

TPNW

• The Leicester Mercury picks up on last week’s decision by Leicester City Council to adopt the TPNW. Well done Leicester CND!

Nuclear Testing 

• Veterans of Britain’s nuclear testing will receive a medal of recognition this summer, The Mirror reports.

UK Nuclear Energy

• UK Energy Secretary Grant Shapps met with his US counterpart on Monday, with the pair discussing the expansion of energy cooperation with renewables and nuclear power.
• The first nuclear reactor has arrived at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

Nuclear Energy

• France is hosting a meeting with 12 other EU member today, with the aim of establishing an alliance to advocate for nuclear power in EU energy policies.
• Saudi Arabia has received bids to build the country’s first fleet of nuclear plants. 

Iran Nuclear Deal

• The UN’s nuclear watchdog chief will visit Iran this week, amid reports Tehran has enriched uranium to near-weapons grade levels.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament