OREANDA-NEWS  Russia supports the strengthening of international mechanisms that prevent the proliferation of biological weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Moreover, useful initiatives to strengthen the relevant non—proliferation regime are often opposed by a number of States seeking to use existing international problems to ensure their own biological security at the expense of others," the greeting reads. According to him, Moscow believes that international cooperation for the non-proliferation of biological and toxin weapons should be carried out "with the indispensable respect for the sovereignty of all states."

Vladimir Putin also stated the importance of increasing collective efforts in the fight against epidemics. He assured that Russian specialists are ready to take an active part in eliminating outbreaks of dangerous infections in various regions of the world.

After the Russian troops entered Ukraine, the Russian authorities repeatedly accused the United States of creating biological laboratories and developing biological weapons, including in Ukraine. So, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops, Igor Kirillov, said in May that bird flu strains were collected in Ukraine on the instructions of the Pentagon. Moscow perceives such activities as a threat to national security. Washington and Kiev deny the charges.