Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow was “categorically” opposed to placing nuclear weapons in space after Washington accused Russia of developing such anti-satellite weapons, AFP reported.

“We have always been categorically opposed to placing nuclear weapons in space and continue to oppose them,” Putin said during a televised meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

“We not only demand compliance with all existing agreements in this area, but we have repeatedly offered to strengthen this joint activity,” added the Russian president, referring to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed by the United States and Russia, which prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in space.

In mid-February, the White House said Russia was developing an anti-satellite nuclear weapon, calling it “alarming” but not an immediate threat.

Last week, Moscow denounced the “malicious” and “baseless” reports as a maneuver by the US executive branch to force passage of an aid package for Ukraine that has been stalled in Congress for months. But Putin spoke on this topic for the first time.

According to television footage, the defense minister told Putin that Russia “doesn’t have” such a weapon and the US “knows we don’t have it”.

“As far as space is concerned, we only do what other countries, including the United States, are doing in space,” Putin concluded.

• Analysis: Nuclear warhead or something else? What anti-satellite weapon has Russia most likely developed?