President Vladimir Putin has asserted that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if the country is threatened.
Putin has repeatedly talked about his readiness to use nuclear weapons since launching the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The most recent of such threat came in his state of the nation address last month, when he warned the West that deepening its involvement in the fighting in Ukraine would risk a nuclear war.
In an interview with state media on March 13, 2024, Putin stressed that Russia’s nuclear forces are in full readiness and “from the military-technical viewpoint, we’re prepared.”
He touted Russian weapons as far advanced.
“Our triad, the nuclear triad, it is more modern than any other triad. Only we and the Americans actually have such triads. And we have advanced much more here.”
Vladimir Putin
Putin said that in line with the country’s security doctrine, Moscow is ready to use nuclear weapons in case of a threat to “the existence of the Russian state, our sovereignty and independence.”
“Everything is written down in our strategy, we haven’t changed it,” he said.
Putin described U.S. President Joe Biden as a veteran politician who fully understands possible dangers of escalation and said that he doesn’t think that the world is heading to a nuclear war.
When asked if he has ever considered using battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin responded that there has been no need for that.
He also voiced confidence that Moscow will achieve its goals in Ukraine and issued a blunt warning to Western allies, declaring that “the nations that say they have no red lines regarding Russia should realize that Russia won’t have any red lines regarding them either.”
Moreover, Putin expressed readiness for negotiations but emphasized that Russia will hold onto its gains and would seek firm guarantees from the West.
“It shouldn’t be a break for the enemy to rearm but a serious talk involving the guarantees of security for the Russian Federation,” he said.
The Russian President stated that a recent spike in Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside his country are part of efforts to derail the upcoming presidential election, which he is set to win by a landslide.
“It’s simple. This is all happening against the backdrop of failures on the frontline. They did not achieve any of the goals that they set for themselves last year.”
“I have no doubt that the main goal is, if not to disrupt the presidential elections in Russia then to somehow interfere with the normal process.”
Vladimir Putin
Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported another major attack by Ukrainian drones on Wednesday. The Defense Ministry disclosed that air defenses downed 58 drones over six regions.
One of the drones hit an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, injuring at least two people and sparking a fire. Another drone was downed as it was approaching a refinery near St. Petersburg.
Ukraine also reported Russian attacks early on Wednesday.
According to Governor Vadym Filashkin, a Russian strike killed two people and injured another five in the town of Myrnohrad in the eastern region of Donetsk, about 30 kilometers (about 20 miles) from the front line.
Russian Forces To Be Placed At Finnish Border
In the interview, Russia’s Vladimir Putin signalled that he intends to boost forces along the country’s border with Finland.
The Russian leader criticised Finland and Sweden’s NATO accession.
“This is an absolutely meaningless step (for Finland and Sweden) from the point of view of ensuring their own national interests,” he said.
He declared, “We didn’t have troops there (at the Finnish border), now they will be there.”
“There were no systems of destruction there, now they will appear,” he added.
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