Putin threatens to deploy nuclear weapons amid Ukraine strikes
- 26 September, 11:06
President Vladimir Putin has said his country was changing rules towards nuclear weapons, lowering the bar of the use of such weapons.
In a key statement made on September 25, Putin detailed the conditions under which Russia would deploy nuclear weapons. He said he would consider using nuclear weapons in case of a “critical attack” to the sovereignty of Russia as well as its ally Belarus. Putin stressed that the Kremlin reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State, adding that this has been agreed upon with the Belarusian side and with the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
“We will consider such a possibility when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border such as strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other flying vehicles,” Putin said. He did not specify any country, however stressed that Ukraine’s attack on Russian territory with the use of French, US or British missiles would represent a “critical threat” to Russian sovereignty.
“We see that the current military-political situation is changing dynamically. We are obliged to take this into account, including the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and our allies. It is important to predict the development of the situation and accordingly adapt the provisions of the strategic planning document to current realities,” Putin said in televised remarks.
Putin’s threats come amid Ukraine’s intensified attacks on Russian soil, including the large-scale incursion into the border Kursk region in early August. Ukraine has recently been pressuring NATO-member countries to allow the use of Western long-range missiles in Ukraine’s attacks deep inside Russia.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated on September 1 that Russia would amend its nuclear doctrine amid the growing threats from the West. However, the official did not specify what these amendments would entail. It’s worth mentioning that Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal globally, with a stockpile of 6000 warheads.
