Russia ready to use nukes if sovereignty threatened: Putin
MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to its statehood, sovereignty or independence, voicing hope that the United States would refrain from actions that could trigger a nuclear conflict.
In an interview with Russian state television released on Wednesday, Putin described US President Joe Biden as a veteran politician who fully understands the possible dangers of escalation and said he does not think the world is heading to a nuclear war.
At the same time, he emphasized that Russia’s nuclear forces are in full readiness and “from the militarytechnical viewpoint, we’re prepared”.
Biden’s administration on Tuesday said the US will send a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $300 million, the first such move in months as additional funds for Kyiv remain blocked by Congress.
“This ammunition will keep Ukraine’s guns firing for a period, but only a short period,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, adding that it may only be helpful to Ukraine for a couple of weeks.
Putin said if US troops appear in Ukraine, Russia will treat them as interventionists, RIA state news agency reported.
In line with the country’s security doctrine, Putin said Moscow is ready to use nuclear weapons in case of a threat to “the existence of the Russian state, our sovereignty and independence”.
He also warned the West in his State of the Nation address last month that deepening its involvement in the fighting in Ukraine would risk a nuclear war.
Poland, which borders Ukraine and hosted around 1 million refugees from the conflict, is among the NATO allies that have been watching the paralysis in Washington with alarm.
During the Polish leaders’ visit to the US, the US State Department said it was approving nearly $3.5 billion in missile sales to Poland.
Russia will deploy its troops and strike systems near Finland and Sweden’s borders following their accession to NATO, Putin said.
He said the countries’ decision to join NATO was based purely on political considerations, adding that “they very much wanted to be members of the Western club, under some kind of umbrella”.
In late February, Putin signed a decree approving the reestablishment of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts to strengthen Russia’s northwestern military forces in response to NATO’s northern expansion.
When asked in the interview 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”.
He held the door open for talks but emphasized that Russia will hold onto its gains and would seek firm guarantees from the West.
Putin said a recent spike in Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russia is part of efforts to derail the country’s three-day presidential election, which starts on Friday.
Russian authorities reported another major attack by Ukrainian drones on Wednesday. The Defense Ministry said 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.
Ukraine, meanwhile, reported more Russian attacks on Wednesday.
A Russian strike killed two people and injured five in Myrnohrad town in the eastern region of Donetsk, about 30 kilometers from the front line, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.
Ukraine has ceded ground to Russian forces in recent months as it faces myriad shortages from artillery to air defenses, Agence FrancePresse reported.