MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s opposition to the deployment of weapons in outer space during his annual year-end press conference on Friday, dismissing growing international speculation regarding a recently discovered interstellar comet.
Addressing reporters in Moscow, Putin specifically addressed concerns surrounding the comet 3I/ATLAS. While he joked briefly that the object was a “secret weapon” to be used as a “last resort,” he quickly pivoted to a serious tone to clarify the Kremlin’s official stance on space security.
“Seriously, we are against the deployment of weapons in space in general,” Putin stated. “There is no threat in this case.”
The president reiterated that Moscow’s official position remains focused on maintaining a peaceful orbital environment. He emphasized that the Russian government is not seeking to militarize space, despite the intense public and media interest in the celestial visitor.
Putin clarified that the object in question is of natural origin and possesses no artificial characteristics that would suggest it is a spacecraft or weapon. He noted that while interstellar comets may exhibit unusual behaviors compared to those from within our solar system, experts fully understand the physical processes at play.
The Russian leader also moved to reassure the public that the comet poses no physical danger to the planet. Scientists are currently monitoring the object as it travels hundreds of millions of kilometers away from Earth, and Putin confirmed that its trajectory remains well outside any zone of concern.
The briefing concluded with the president noting that while such objects are rare, they are a subject for scientific study rather than military alarm. This stance aligns with Russia’s long-standing diplomatic efforts to promote international treaties preventing an arms race in outer space. (Xinhua)
