The government is accusing Russia of diplomatic sabotage at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting in the US.
Russia's objections have prevented modest steps in trying to make progress on nuclear disarmament, Phil Twyford says. Photo: RNZ / Ana Tovey
The month-long conference which brought together the 191 states that are parties to the treaty ended in New York earlier today.
Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control Phil Twyford said the overwhelming majority of states called for urgent progress on nuclear disarmament.
But he said even with an offer by the United States for new negotiations on arms control, the nuclear weapons states were unable to agree on disarmament.
Twyford said the final text signposted new pathways for reducing nuclear risk but was blocked by Russia.
"This is an act of diplomatic sabotage at the very time the world needs cooperation on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," Twyford said.
"The outcome blocked by Russia fell far short of New Zealand's ambitions for the conference."
It was suspected Russia's decision to block the final text was payback for criticism of its invasion of Ukraine.
"It is critically important right now that the nuclear weapon states actually get together and negotiate a new framework for disarmanent and arms control," Twyford told RNZ.
"That's what the world's been trying to do for the last four weeks at the UN in New York.
"Unfortunately because of Russia sabotaging it at the last minute the whole thing's ended with nothing to show for it."
He said Russia has displayed similar behaviour at many other international forums.
Twyford said if the draft had been adopted, it would have shown international cooperation, at a time of global insecurity.
He said the draft reflected this country's deep concern at the heightened threat and devastating consequences of nuclear weapons' use.
"It also signposted new pathways for work on nuclear risk reduction, enhanced transparency and accountability, and efforts to address nuclear harm, including in the Pacific, but Russia's objections have prevented even these modest steps.
"With the very real nuclear risk apparent in today's world, and growing concern about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, this failure is unacceptable and puts further stress on the NPT."
Twyford said New Zealand remained committed to a world without nuclear weapons.