Russia to perceive US nuclear weapons return to Britain as escalation

Russia will perceive the return of US nuclear weapons to the territory of the UK as a step towards escalation, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"By us, if this step is realised, it will be perceived as escalation," the Russian diplomat noted.

Zakharova emphasised that the West will go for an "escalation step" that takes in the opposite direction from solving the urgent task of withdrawing all US nuclear weapons from Europe.

The spokesperson recalled that the arsenal is deployed there as part of the NATO joint nuclear missions.

Earlier, the Daily Telegraph reported that the Pentagon plans to transfer two squadrons of American F-35A fighter-bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons to the Lakenheath air base in the English county of Suffolk.