CND Press Roundup, Tuesday 22 Feb 2022
Posted: 22nd February 2022
NATO-Ukraine-Russian Tensions
Kate’s latest blogpost covers the ongoing crisis, the lack of willingness by UK political leaders to engage in diplomatic initiatives, and threat of an escalation to the point of nuclear war.
It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin officially orderedtroops into the breakaway eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk on Monday, hours after officially recognising them as independent republics. Among the reasons for the intervention, Putin said Ukraine wanted to possess its own nuclear weapons, a move he said was unacceptable. Putin added the troops would be sent “to maintain peace” amid weeks of claims that civilians were at risk of shelling and genocide. The move officially buries the 2014 Minsk agreement, which sought a peaceful solution to years of fighting in the region.
Ukrainian and Western leaders have reacted with fury to Putin’s move, fearing it is the precursor to a wider invasion of Ukraine. The UK’s response has included the sanctioning of five Russian banks and three high worth individuals. EU members are also mulling their options with Germany already putting a pause on the NordStream2 gas pipeline.
Nuclear Test Apology
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called on Boris Johnson to issue an official state apology to UK veterans of nuclear testing. Burnham was speaking at an event to mark the 70th anniversary of Operation Hurricane, which catapulted Britain in the Cold War nuclear arms race.
Iran Nuclear Deal
Iran has called for all economic sanctions to be lifted if the 2015 JPCOA nuclear deal is to be revived. It comes amid the latest round of diplomatic talks in Vienna aimed at convincing Tehran to curb its enrichment of uranium, with an agreement believed to be days away. However Israel has warned that any agreement reached with Iran would be weaker than the original agreement.
North Korea
US monitoring websites, citing satellite images, have said that North Korea’s plutonium-producing nuclear reactor seems to be in operation. The images noted recent snowmelt at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, suggesting the cooling system and reactor were in operation. However the websites said thermal imaging gave the impression that the facility was “occupied” rather than operational. Pyongyang previously reprocessed spent fuel rods from the reactor to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
Meanwhile, South Korea has urged North Korea to return to nuclear talks following the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Seoul is concerned that missile tests undertaken by Pyongyang in January will resume after a lull in activity during the games.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power Ghana has announced that it will have chosen the location for the country’s first commercial nuclear power station by the end of the year. It hopes to have its first reactor in operation by 2030.
Hiroshima
The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Division for Prosperity is offering virtual 360 degree tours as part of its training programme on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Due to be held online between February 25th and March 18th, it includes tours of Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and a rare glimpse inside the Atomic Bomb Dome.
Worth Reading:
Caroline Lucas has a piece in the Independent looking at some Conservative’s “baffling approach” to the energy crisis with ideas such as fracking and more nuclear power stations.
Meanwhile, City AM takes the opposite approach in an interview with a former Greenpeace activist who claims nuclear energy “has a lot going for it.”
Pádraig McCarrick
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament