Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and many expected the Russian military to quickly quell the Ukrainian resistance. But on March 13, Viktor Zolotov, head of Russia’s National Guard, publicly acknowledged that “things are not going as fast as we would like.” Weeks later, Russia suffered major setbacks, including the withdrawal from Kyiv, in a shameful development for Putin. “Given the potential despair of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the military setbacks they have faced so far, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a possible recourse to regular nuclear weapons or low-performance nuclear weapons. “CIA Director William Burns told Georgia Tech on Thursday. Burns’ warning is not a new concern for US officials. In 2018, a review of the Department of Defense’s nuclear stance – which documents the role of nuclear weapons and security – said Russia could use a “limited-use” nuclear weapon in a scenario that would “de-escalate” a conflict. on favorable terms for Russia. “ If Putin uses a nuclear device, even a small tactical weapon, he does so at the risk of launching a full-scale war. In an interview with the BBC in mid-March, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that the use of any weapons of mass destruction by Russia could lead to a response from NATO. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has also warned Russia against using nuclear weapons. “NATO is there to protect and defend all allies and we are sending a very clear message to Russia that a nuclear war can not be won and should never be fought,” Stoltenberg told a news conference on March 23. “Any use of nuclear weapons will fundamentally change the nature of the conflict, and Russia must understand that there must never be a nuclear war and that they can never win a nuclear war.” As the war in Ukraine escalates, experts worry that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin could eventually resort to the use of nuclear weapons out of desperation. In this photo, Putin is seen walking near a Russian fighter jet outside Moscow on June 17, 2010. Getty Despite the warnings, Putin may already be feeling the pressure to resort to such tactics as the invasion continues. A senior U.S. Air Force officer working on nuclear weapons told Newsweek in a previous story that the intelligence community was concerned that Russia might use Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles. “The use of nuclear weapons is unthinkable, but the Russians are becoming increasingly desperate and their main tactical nuclear system is now a proven weapon,” he said. “This is often a crucial factor in the mind of a decision maker – the promise of regular success.” Russian Press Secretary Dmitry Peshkov told CNN on March 22 that there could be situations where Russia would justify the use of nuclear war. “Well, we have a concept of internal security and it is public,” Peshkov said. “You can read all the reasons why nuclear weapons should be used. Therefore, if it is an existential threat, a threat to our country, then it can be used according to our perception.” Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and current vice-president of the country’s security council, told the Guardian last month four situations in which Russia would be justified in turning to its nuclear arsenal. “The number one situation is when Russia is hit by a nuclear missile. The second case is any use of other nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies,” Medvedev told the newspaper. “The third is an attack on a critical infrastructure that will have paralyzed our nuclear deterrents. And the fourth is an act of aggression against Russia and its allies, which has jeopardized the very existence of the country itself.” even without the use of nuclear weapons, ie with the use of conventional weapons “. The United States has reportedly begun preparations for Russia to use nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine. The New York Times reported in March that the Biden government had assembled a group of national security officials to work out a response in the event that Putin turns to chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Efforts are still underway to end the conflict before such weapons can be used. Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch and Putin ally, was reportedly trying to resume peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Talks between the two countries have stalled in recent weeks after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia was targeting Ukrainian civilians and that its troops were committing “genocidal” acts. The Ukrainian leader is also among those who have publicly reported on Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons. Referring to Burns’s comments that we do not take the nuclear threat lightly, Zelensky told CNN: “We must not wait for Russia to decide whether to use nuclear weapons; we must prepare for it.” Newsweek contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
