Scholz acknowledged that Russia does not threaten the world with nuclear weapons.

Russia does not threaten the world with nuclear weapons, and Germany is ready to discuss arms control issues in Europe with Moscow, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday on Deutschlandfunk radio.

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According to the German leader, the threat of nuclear escalation has decreased, which was facilitated by dialogue with China and also the G20 countries.

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“Russia does not threaten to use nuclear weapons. <…> Scholz stressed that he is ready to negotiate with Russia on arms control in Europe. This was proposed even before the Ukrainian crisis, and nothing has changed in this position,” Deutschlandfunk reports.

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Earlier Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights. During the meeting, the head of state noted that the threat of nuclear war in the world is growing. At the same time, the president stressed that Russia is not going to brandish nuclear weapons like a razor, but perceives them as a deterrent.