On 21-22 October the Pugwash Council met in hybrid format at the premises of the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. Noting the seriousness of conflicts that have erupted in different parts of the world, we express our deep concern at the further spread of war and violence against civilians. We appeal for the international community to vigorously work for a cessation of hostilities and for the strict observance of international law, in particular of international humanitarian...
The nuclear weapons taboo is undoubtedly weakening, but Moscow shouldn’t be the first to break it
Professor Sergey Karaganov’s “Tough-but-necessary decision”
article
– which claims that by using its nuclear weapons, Russia could save humanity from a global catastrophe – has provoked plenty of reaction both at home and abroad. This is partly due to the author’s status – he has been an adviser to both President Boris Yeltsin and President Vladimir Putin – and also because of the belief that his opinion...
If the Ukraine conflict continues on its current trajectory, it will end in a total disaster for humanity
Dmitry Trenin is a research professor at the Higher School of Economics and a lead research fellow at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. He is also a member of the Russian International Affairs Council.
Professor Sergey Karaganov’s “Tough-but-necessary decision”
article
– which claims that by using its nuclear weapons, Russia could save humanity from a global catastrophe...
On March 23, 2023, Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), in partnership with The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, held a regular online international high-level expert round table, dedicated to the trends in the development of world politics in the context of acute recent crises
On March 23, 2023, Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), in partnership with The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University...
The need for urgent action is clear: Each nation with nuclear arms has a responsibility to reduce the risk of nuclear blunder, and nations must work together to eliminate nuclear risks and threats and avoid any military clash of nuclear powers
Since 1945, a combination of prudent leadership, military professionalism, good luck, and divine providence has enabled humanity to avoid using nuclear weapons. But the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine elevates such risks dramatically, the latest reminder...
Russia has not done anything like mobilization in this century, and that using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine makes little sense for Vladimir Putin
Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council Andrey
Kortunov says Russia has not done anything like mobilization in this
century, and that using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine "makes little sense"
for Vladimir Putin.
Watch his interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
On September 9, 2022, Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), in partnership with The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, held the ninth online international high-level expert round table, dedicated to the trends in the development of world politics in the context of acute recent crises
On September 9, 2022, Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), in partnership with The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard...
Dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations are the only acceptable route to resolving the conflict in a way that can stand the test of time
Reducing and eliminating nuclear risks that could lead to catastrophic consequences is a common interest for all nations and an enduring responsibility of the nuclear weapon states. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine elevates such risks dramatically. The firefight at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine was the latest reminder of how nuclear catastrophe can...
If New START had ceased to exist on February 5 this year, the nuclear arms control system would have been completely dismantled
Now that the New START Treaty is extended, the parties need to make efforts to work out a realistic new agreement that takes into account as many of the parties’ concerns as possible, but it should not set impossible tasks as a precondition, writes Valdai Club expert Evgeny Buzhinsky.
Following the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the...
New weapons can have both stabilizing and destabilizing effects
Development of new technologies and weaponization of those is a feature of human history. Today we face new threats, but new weapons can have both stabilizing and destabilizing effects. Hypersonic missiles is one of the most popular topics, but the quality of the debate can and must be improved.
Why all the ‘hyperhype’?
Over the last few years, there has been quite an effort to educate the public about the hypersonic weapons. Some...
