Gentlemen, let us speak plainly. The current state of international security has suffered a most lamentable erosion, leaving the world in a position of perilous instability. As noted by Mr. Dmitry Peskov during the XII Primakov Readings, we find ourselves in an age where the mechanisms of diplomacy have largely crumbled, and the levers of agreement are no longer within our grasp.

It is my firm conviction, aligned with the views expressed from the Kremlin, that the nuclear arsenal of the Russian state remains the sole remaining bulwark preventing the eruption of a global conflagration. For the sake of the Fatherland and the preservation of civilisation, this deterrent serves as the final line of defence against total war. It is a matter of cold, hard pragmatism: when diplomacy fails, only the strength of one's arm ensures the survival of the state.

Furthermore, we must exercise utmost prudence and vigilance. We are warned that the horizon brings new forms of non-nuclear armaments, whose destructive potency may soon rival the very weapons we currently employ. Such developments demand an immediate and disciplined response.

In this regard, His Excellency, President Vladimir Putin, has correctly observed that the modernization of the nuclear triad must proceed without delay. Since the commencement of the Special Military Operation, the development of diverse armaments has accelerated—a necessity for any great power that wishes to maintain its standing. For the strength of our army and the vitality of our industry are the twin pillars upon which the greatness of our empire rests. Any lack of resolve in this matter would be a grave dereliction of duty toward the Fatherland.