"Both the Russian Federation and Ukraine have made allegations against each other and informed the organization about allegations of use of chemical weapons," the OPCW said in a statement, stressing that, according to the information provided by both countries and the available information, it cannot conclude that these types of weapons are being used. However, this organization that prohibits chemical weapons warned that the situation in Ukraine "remains volatile and extremely concerning" with regard to the possible use of chemical weapons. Despite having stressed that the declared chemical arsenals were destroyed in July 2023, "this does not mean that chemical weapons no longer exist". The organization therefore stressed that "any chemical substance used for its toxic properties with the aim of causing harm or death is considered a chemical weapon". The OPCW also recalled that the signatory states to the Chemical Weapons Convention have "the obligation to declare all toxic chemical agents" that they possess. Last week, the US government announced new measures against Russia for, among other issues, using chemical weapons against Ukraine. Russia, in turn, denied having used this type of weaponry. The OPCW explained, regarding these Washington measures, that in order to carry out any activity related to complaints about the use of toxic chemicals as weapons "it would be necessary to formally submit a request to the OPCW from the States Parties to carry out said activity", a situation that has not occurred up to now. "We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain our willingness to mobilize. We remain in contact with the States involved and invite those who may have substantiated information to share it," the agency also stressed. The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. The OPCW won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons and played a key role during the Syrian civil war, managing to convince Damascus to dismantle its chemical weapons arsenal. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on the grounds of protecting pro-Russian separatist minorities in the east and "denazifying" the neighbouring country, independent since 1991, after the break-up of the former Soviet Union, and which has been moving away from Moscow's sphere of influence and closer to Europe and the West. The war in Ukraine has already caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides, and the two belligerents remain steadfast in their territorial positions and without any openness to negotiating concessions. Read Also: Russia warns that weapons sent to Kyiv are on the black market (Portuguese version)