Ukrainian-Russian War: Nuclear Risks Rising, But We’re Not Crazy – Putin

Russia’s ability to use nuclear weapons has come under increasing scrutiny since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

“Such threats are growing, it would be wrong to hide them,” Putin warned, raising the prospect of nuclear war by video link from Moscow.

But he said Russia would “under no circumstances” use weapons first, and would not threaten anyone with its nuclear arsenal.

“We are not crazy yet, we know what nuclear weapons are,” he said, adding, “We are not ready to go around the world brandishing these weapons like a razor.”

Putin also boasted that Russia has the most modern and sophisticated nuclear weapons in the world, and compared its nuclear strategy to that of the United States – which he says is farther away from Russia in implanting their nuclear weapons in other regions.

“We do not have nuclear weapons, including tactical ones, on the territory of other countries, but America has them – in Turkey, and in a number of other European countries,” he said. .

Putin has previously insisted that Russia’s nuclear doctrine only permits the defensive use of nuclear weapons.

Appearing to admit that his plan to claim victory days after invading Ukraine had failed, Putin acknowledged that war could be a “long process”.

He said, however, that the results had been “significant”, such as new territories Russia illegally claimed after the sham referendums on four Ukrainian regions.

He boasted that the annexation had made the Sea of ​​Azov – which borders southeastern Ukraine and southwestern Russia – Russia’s “inland sea”, adding that it was the aspiration of Russian Tsar Peter the Great. President Putin has compared himself to the rulers of the 17th and 18th centuries.

However, despite claiming the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions as new Russian territories, Moscow does not fully control these areas.

Last month, Russian troops were forced to withdraw from the city of Kherson, the only regional capital they have captured since their February invasion.

Setbacks on the frontline led to Russia targeting Ukraine’s power grid with massive airstrikes across the country,

These airstrikes caused extensive damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, depriving millions of people of heat and electricity for hours or even days as temperatures dropped below freezing.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has warned that the Ukrainian capital, which has been hit hard by the power outages, could experience an “apocalypse”.

“kyiv can lose power, water and heat. An apocalypse can happen, like in Hollywood movies, when it’s impossible to stay at home because of low temperatures,” Mr Klitschko said in an interview with Reuters.

Although heated shelters have been set up in the city, Klitschko acknowledged that there are not enough for all residents, and people should be prepared to evacuate if the situation worsens.

In Russia, any potential criticism of Putin’s invasion has been blocked before the Human Rights Council.

Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, 10 council members who expressed doubts about the war were dismissed. A pro-war replacement was appointed in their place.

According to the independent Russian media Verstka, the topics to be discussed at the meeting have also been thoroughly discussed beforehand.

In recent weeks, Russia’s nuclear doctrine has come under scrutiny as nuclear weapons can be used, especially “tactical” weapons that can be unleashed on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for use in combat, not “strategic” weapons, designed to cause mass destruction.