Putin calls for nuclear-weapon-free world at 11th NPT Review Conference
Synopsis
At the 11th NPT Review Conference in New York, Putin called for a nuclear-weapon-free world — even as the UN chief warned that global nuclear warhead counts are rising for the first time in decades and nuclear testing is back on the table. The gap between the rhetoric of disarmament and the reality of re-armament has rarely been more visible.
Key Takeaways
Vladimir Putin addressed the 11th NPT Review Conference at UN headquarters, New York , calling for multilateral efforts toward a nuclear-weapon-free world .
Putin's statement was delivered by Andrey Ivanovich Belousov , ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that nuclear warhead numbers are rising for the first time in decades and nuclear testing is "back on the table." Guterres flagged artificial intelligence and quantum computing as compounding the nuclear threat.
The conference runs from Monday to 22 May at the United Nations, New York .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for accelerated multilateral efforts to build a nuclear-weapon-free world, reaffirming Russia's commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the 11th NPT Review Conference at UN headquarters in New York. Putin's statement was read out by Andrey Ivanovich Belousov, ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, amid a backdrop of rising global nuclear tensions.
Putin's Key Positions at the Conference
In his address, Putin described Russia as a responsible depositary of the NPT and said Moscow strictly abides by the letter and spirit of the treaty. He stressed that "amid the current complex international situation, additional multilateral efforts are required to create conditions for further progress on the path to building a nuclear-weapon-free world, while strictly upholding the principle of not compromising the security of any party."
Russia, as a leading nation in nuclear energy, also expressed readiness to develop cooperation with interested NPT member states in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Moscow's position, according to Putin's statement, is that countries conscientiously fulfilling their NPT obligations are entitled to peaceful nuclear energy access without undue restrictions.
UN Chief's Warning: Treaty Is Eroding
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday delivered a stark warning at the opening of the conference, cautioning that the NPT has been eroding, commitments remain unfulfilled, and trust is wearing thin. He noted that for the first time in decades, the number of nuclear warheads is on the rise and nuclear testing is "back on the table."
"This conference provides a timely opportunity to stand together and safeguard humanity from the grave threat of nuclear annihilation," Guterres said, urging nations to honour their NPT pledges. He called for reinforcing the norm against nuclear testing, strengthening International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight, and agreeing on measures to prevent nuclear war.
New Technology Threats Compound Nuclear Risk
Guterres also flagged an emerging dimension to the nuclear threat — the rapid evolution of technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. He underlined that the NPT must grapple with the nexus between nuclear weapons and these new technologies, warning that a "state of collective amnesia has taken hold" globally regarding nuclear dangers.
"We need to breathe life into the treaty once more," he said, calling on member states to recommit to disarmament and non-proliferation as "the only true path to peace."
About the 11th NPT Review Conference
The 11th NPT Review Conference began on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York and is scheduled to run until 22 May. The conference brings together member states of the NPT to assess the treaty's implementation and chart a course forward for global nuclear disarmament. Russia has expressed hope that the conference will be productive and strengthen the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
With nuclear warhead counts rising and geopolitical fault lines deepening, the outcome of this conference will be closely watched as a barometer of whether multilateral disarmament diplomacy can still find common ground.
Point of View
Making its diplomatic posture at the NPT difficult to reconcile with its battlefield signalling. Meanwhile, Guterres' warning that warhead counts are rising for the first time in decades is not abstract — it reflects real moves by multiple nuclear states, not just one. The conference risks becoming another round of declaratory diplomacy unless member states move beyond statements and agree on verifiable disarmament benchmarks. The inclusion of AI and quantum computing in the disarmament conversation is overdue, but treaty frameworks have historically lagged technology by decades.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Putin say at the 11th NPT Review Conference?
Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to the NPT and called for additional multilateral efforts to build a nuclear-weapon-free world while not compromising any party's security. His statement was read out by Russian Foreign Ministry ambassador-at-large Andrey Ivanovich Belousov at the UN headquarters in New York.
What is the 11th NPT Review Conference?
It is a multilateral conference of member states of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), held at UN headquarters in New York. The 11th edition began on Monday and is scheduled to run until 22 May, with the goal of reviewing the treaty's implementation and advancing global nuclear disarmament.
Why did UN Secretary-General Guterres warn about the NPT?
Guterres warned that the NPT is eroding, with commitments unfulfilled and trust wearing thin. He noted that nuclear warhead numbers are rising for the first time in decades and nuclear testing is back on the table, calling on nations to recommit to disarmament and non-proliferation.
How does artificial intelligence relate to nuclear weapons according to Guterres?
Guterres flagged AI and quantum computing as new dangers that compound the nuclear threat, arguing that the NPT must address the growing nexus between nuclear weapons and rapidly evolving technologies to remain relevant.
What is Russia's stance on peaceful nuclear energy at the NPT?
Russia stated that countries fulfilling their NPT obligations are entitled to peaceful nuclear energy access without undue restrictions. As a leading nuclear energy nation, Russia expressed readiness to cooperate with interested NPT member states in this field.
