Russia remains in a state of war readiness while it is ready for a nuclear war, as stated by Vladimir Putin in an interview on a Russian channel. However, he stressed that there is “no indication that we are getting any closer to that”.
In particular, to a question about whether Russia is ready for a nuclear war, he answered that “from a military-technical point of view, yes, we are ready.” According to the Russian president, the US understands that if it deploys troops on Russian soil or in Ukraine, Russia will consider this move as interference and respond.
“There are several experts (including in the US) in terms of Russian-American relations and in terms of strategic restraint. So I don’t think there’s anything now that shows we’re getting close to it (i.e. nuclear war), but we’re ready,” Putin added. As he pointed out, “weapons exist so that you can use them. We have our own principles.”
BREAKING: Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if threatened, Putin tells state media https://t.co/1zNnlz2ABw
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 13, 2024
“There has never been such a need”
In the same interview, Mr. Putin noted that if the US conducts nuclear tests then Russia may do the same: “It is not necessary … we have to think about it but I do not rule out doing the same.”
However, the Russian president noted that Moscow has never faced the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. “Why do we need weapons of mass destruction? There has never been such a need” he typically answered about the case of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
This is not the first time Putin has issued threats to use nukes. He made similar statements at the end of February in his annual speech on the occasion, as he said then, that NATO forces are “preparing to strike Russian soil”, using the most effective means at their disposal for this purpose. The fate of any country that attacks Russia will be “much more tragic” than anything our own country can face, Putin had noted.
“They need to understand that we also have weapons, weapons that could defeat them on their own soil,” he added, explaining that such an aggressive move could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. “Don’t they get that?” he wondered, formulating the assessment that “Russophobia blinds people and deprives them of their rational ability”.
Finally, Putin then warned NATO countries that they risk a nuclear conflict if they send troops to Ukraine, adding that Russia needs to strengthen its western military sector after the admission of Finland and Sweden to the North Atlantic Alliance.
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