Moscow has called on nuclear-weapon states to ensure global strategic stability and refuse to encourage provocations using weapons of mass destruction, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry recalled that in the field of nuclear deterrence, Russia is guided by the postulate of inadmissibility of nuclear war, in which there can be no winners, and its doctrinal guidelines have only a defensive orientation and do not allow for an expansive interpretation.

"Response with the use of nuclear weapons is hypothetically allowed by Russia only in response to aggression with the use of weapons of mass destruction or to aggression with the use of conventional weapons when the existence of the state is threatened," the diplomats noted, adding that Moscow proceeds from the continued relevance of existing agreements and reaffirms its commitment to the joint statement on the prevention of nuclear war and the prevention of an arms race of January 3, 2022.

In the current "complicated and turbulent situation," which has resulted from irresponsible and brazen actions aimed at undermining Russia's national security, the first priority is to prevent a military clash of nuclear powers, the statement noted.

"We call on the other countries of the 'nuclear five' to demonstrate in practice their readiness to work on this priority task and to refuse dangerous attempts to infringe on each other's vital interests, balancing on the verge of direct armed conflict and encouraging provocations with weapons of mass destruction, which can lead to disastrous consequences," the Foreign Ministry said.

Russia continues to advocate the formation of an updated, more sustainable international security architecture based on ensuring predictability and global strategic stability, as well as respect for the principles of equality, indivisible security, and mutual consideration of the fundamental interests of the parties, the document said.

Recently, the U.S. and its allies have constantly accused Russia of resorting to nuclear blackmail and allegedly threatening to strike with weapons of mass destruction. As President Vladimir Putin has noted, Moscow has never proactively said anything about the use of nuclear weapons, and the inflammatory thesis about the Russian threat is used by the West to negatively influence Russia's friendly countries.