Russia’s priority is a nondiscriminatory approach to the use and research of space

Nov 09: Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman
Maria Zakharova made a comment on statements by US officials regarding Russia’s activities in outer space. The release being as follows

We have noted new and groundless accusations by American officials (US Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Chief of US Space Operations John Raymond) against Russia regarding the development and testing of surface- and space-based anti-satellite weapons.

We regard this escapade as part of a propaganda campaign initiated by Washington to discredit Russia’s activities in outer space, as well as its initiatives to preclude an arms race in outer space. Our American colleagues are making yet another attempt to distort the situation in order to draw the attention of the international community away from the real threats in space and justify the steps they are taking to deploy weapons in space and secure more funding for this purpose.

We want to emphasise that Russia’s activities in outer space are not made in the pursuit of confrontation, are not designed to disable the operation of space vehicles of other countries, and are being carried out in strict compliance with international law, including the fundamental Space Treaty of 1967. Our priority is the nondiscriminatory approach to the use and research of space for peaceful purposes only. This is evident in the initiatives in this field that Russia is promoting with broad support from like-minded countries.