Since beginning a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Russian president has stated on several occasions that he is prepared to use nuclear weapons.
In his state-of-the-nation speech last month too, Putin made the most current warning, alerting the West to the possibility of nuclear war should it continue to escalate its involvement in the combat in Ukraine.
Reiteratin his stance In an recently-released interview with Russian state television on Thursday, Putin was asked if he had ever thought about unleashing nuclear weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine. He replied that there had never been a necessity for such. Additionally, he expressed his belief that there is no imminent threat of nuclear war and characterized U.S. President Joe Biden as an experienced statesman who is well aware of the potential consequences of escalation.
Putin: If a nuclear war were to break out, Russia would be ready
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that his country is ready for a nuclear conflict should its sovereignty be threatened. But not “everything is rushing to it” right now, he noted.
Putin stated in an interview with Russian official media that “the deployment of American troops on Russian territory or in Ukraine would be considered an intervention.”
In a direct threat to the West, the president of Russia declared that nuclear tests would be carried out by the Kremlin should the US follow suit. However, Putin has expressed confidence in Moscow’s ability to achieve its goals in Ukraine and warned Western allies that Russia will not have any red lines regarding them either. He held the door open for talks but emphasized that Russia would hold onto its gains and seek firm guarantees from the West.
Putin also mentioned that a recent spike in Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russia is part of efforts to derail the country’s three-day presidential election, which he is set to win by a landslide. He emphasized that Russia would seek firm guarantees from the West and that the recent spike in Ukrainian drone attacks is part of efforts to derail the country’s political landscape.
Following that, Putin challenges NATO
Putin explicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons, cautioning NATO against deploying troops to support Ukraine. “Sending NATO contingents to Ukraine has been discussed. But we do not forget what happened to those who dispatched contingents earlierr, Putin told the Russian parliament, “Now the consequences for the interventionists will be much more tragic.”
“We possess weapons as well that can strike targets within their borders. This raises the possibility of a nuclear war and, with it, the abolition of civilization”, he continued.
His statement came after French President Emmanuel Macron proposed sending Western troops to help Ukraine fight off Putin’s invasion, which was met with a furious response from the Kremlin and was shot down by other NATO allies. Putin stated that Russian forces have taken the initiative on the battlefield and are steadily advancing.
He vowed to finish the war, eradicate Nazism, and protect the sovereignty and security of citizens. Putin also stated that the invasion is supported by the “absolute majority” of Russian citizens, with people working triple shifts to provide ammo and aid to Moscow’s forces. He rejected suggestions from Washington D.C. that Russia was planning to put nuclear weapons in space but mentioned that Russian scientists and gunsmiths are working on advanced weapon systems.
Russia’s Red Line Can Be Crossed by Ukraine, as Per NATO
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine is free to defend itself against Russia using the weaponry that the West has given it, even if that means hitting targets inside Russia’s borders. “This is a flagrant breach of international law—Russia is waging an aggressive war against Ukraine,” Stoltenberg stated in a Tuesday interview with Radio Liberty.
Additionally, Ukraine has the right to self-defense under international law. Additionally, it covers attacks on Russian military sites outside of Ukraine that are lawful targets. That is international law, and Ukraine is entitled to self-defense in that regard. “NATO official Stoltenberg confirmed that Kyiv’s right to self-defense includes striking Russian military targets outside of Ukraine.
Russian President Putin has warned against Ukraine using its Western-supplied equipment to launch attacks on Russian territory, causing escalation. NATO allies, including the US, have since given Ukraine long-range weapons capable of reaching Russia, despite previous warnings. Additionally, Russia claims that an Ilyushin II-76 military transport jet was shot down in Russian territory using a Patriot air defense system manufactured in the United States.
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