Ukraine today rejected as “absurd” a Russian claim that Kyiv is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons with the help of two nuclear powers, Britain and France.

“Russian officials, known for their remarkable track record of lies, are once again trying to fabricate the old nonsense about a ‘dirty bomb,’” Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, told Reuters.

“For the record: Ukraine has already dismissed such absurd Russian claims many times in the past, and we officially reject them again now. We call on the international community to reject and condemn Russia’s dirty information bombs.”

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), without providing evidence, accused Britain and France of preparing to secretly supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons components and technology. Britain did not immediately respond to the Russian allegation. France, in a statement issued by its embassy in Moscow to the RBC news outlet, described the claim as a “blatant lie.”