Country: The Russian Federation

Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee

Topic: Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Donbass
Delegate: Pablo Miñano Tejada
Delegation: Montessori International College

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014 has resulted in a lack of effective governance and
control in the Donbass region, creating fertile ground for the spread of WMDs. The Russian
Federation firmly believes that the proliferation of WMDs in the area is a direct consequence of this
ongoing conflict and the absence of a peaceful resolution. Criminal elements have been able to
operate with impunity in the region, including those involved in the illegal trade of WMDs.

As a responsible member of the international community, Russia takes the issue of WMD
proliferation in Donbass seriously. Reports indicate that separatist forces have obtained chemical
weapons and other WMDs from the Ukrainian and U.S military, leading to their use against civilians
and resulting in the deaths of approximately 14,000 Russians. Such activities are a serious violation of
international law and pose a significant threat to regional and global security. Russia acknowledges
the need for urgent attention from the international community to address this issue and prevent
further escalation of the conflict.

Russia has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to preventing the proliferation of WMDs
through its support of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention. As
a signatory of these treaties, Russia has pledged to fulfil its obligations and take proactive steps to
prevent the development, production, and use of chemical and biological weapons. Russia has also
engaged in negotiations and agreements with other countries regarding the reduction and control of
WMDs.

Furthermore, Russia has taken concrete actions to demonstrate its commitment to preventing the
proliferation of WMDs. For instance, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has conducted
inspections of Russia's nuclear facilities to ensure compliance with international nonproliferation
standards. These inspections are critical in verifying that Russia is fulfilling its obligations under the
NPT and other international agreements.

Russia has been a key partner in the ongoing efforts to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons program,
providing technical expertise and resources to support the successful removal and destruction of
Syria's declared chemical weapons stockpiles. In addition, the Russian Federation has provided
technical assistance and expertise to countries seeking to enhance their capacity to prevent and
respond to WMD-related threats. For example, Russia has provided training and equipment to assist in
the detection and disposal of unexploded ordnance and other hazardous materials in Syria and other
conflict zones.

The Russian Federation is deeply concerned about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
(WMDs) in Donbass and believes urgent action must be taken to prevent their spread. One proposed
solution is the Donbass WMDs Prevention and Countermeasures Project, which includes two pillars:
preventative measures and detection and response. The preventative measures aim to establish a
framework to regulate the possession, transfer, and use of WMDs in Donbass, while the detection and
response pillar aims to enhance the ability to detect and respond to WMD-related threats. The Russian
Federation also stresses the importance of international cooperation and collaboration to prevent the
proliferation of WMDs, engaging with international organisations and providing support to other
countries in the region to prevent and respond to WMD-related threats.
 References

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International Atomic Energy Agency. (2021, December 6). IAEA's Grossi meets Russia's Putin to help
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f

"The Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," by the Congressional Research Service:

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R41464.pdf

"Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction," by the United Nations Office for Disarmament
Affairs: https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/

Council on Foreign Relations. (2022). Global Conflict Tracker: Ukraine Conflict. Retrieved from
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine.