A stark and unsettling nuclear threat, emanating from Vladimir Putin’s closest confidant, has been directed towards the world, cautioning the United States and other NATO allies about the peril of plunging into “a situation of direct armed confrontation.”
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the Russian President and his inner circle have consistently issued warnings regarding the potential use of nuclear arms.
Russia, renowned for its extensive nuclear arsenal, has been unabashed in its display of these capabilities and the demonstration of its latest weaponry.
Tensions have been escalating steadily as Russia’s anger intensifies over Western support for Ukraine through the provision of aid, weaponry, and fighter aircraft.
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, has emphasized that nuclear weapons serve as a safeguard against security threats to his nation. In an interview featured in the state-owned magazine “The International Affairs,” available on the Foreign Ministry’s website, Lavrov stated, “The possession of nuclear arms is today the only possible response to some of the significant external threats to the security of our country.”
Lavrov’s assertion extends to cautioning NATO allies, suggesting they are courting “a situation of direct armed confrontation between nuclear powers.” He further underscored the necessity to avert such a scenario: “We believe such a development should be prevented. That’s why we have to remind about the existence of high military and political risks and send sobering signals to our opponents.”
This chilling statement adds to a series of ominous declarations from Russian sources and those close to Putin, alluding to the potential use of nuclear force in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko issued a similar warning, stating that his nation would employ nuclear weapons if faced with NATO or Ukrainian “aggression.”
Recent developments saw Lukashenko being provided with tactical nuclear weapons by Putin. Although these weapons are purportedly under Moscow’s control, Lukashenko has previously asserted his ability to authorize their use. In an interview with state news agency Belta, Lukashenko clarified, “We didn’t bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone. Yes, nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones. This is why we will use them immediately once aggression is launched against us.”
Adding to the anxiety, Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin aide and former Russian president, ominously suggested that Moscow might have no alternative but to resort to “the use of nuclear weapons” should Ukraine’s counteroffensive succeed.
Medvedev’s statement followed a distressing incident in which kamikaze drones executed a three-pronged attack on Moscow’s business district, resulting in devastating fires and the destruction of skyscrapers near the Kremlin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored his nation’s growing strength and issued a caution that “the war is returning to the territory of Russia.”
However, Medvedev, now serving as Putin’s deputy on the influential Russian security council, reiterated that Russia’s armed forces were not only defending its citizens and land but were also instrumental in preventing a global conflict. He warned, “If we were to imagine that [the Ukrainians], supported by NATO, achieved success in their offensive and captured parts of our territory, then, in compliance with the President of Russia’s decree dated 06/02/2020, we would have no choice but to resort to the use of nuclear weapons.”
Medvedev underscored that in such a dire scenario, “there is simply no other way out.” He cautioned that global adversaries should hope for the protection of Russian forces, as they are the ones preventing the eruption of a global nuclear conflagration.
Source: {Matzav.com}