Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on alert in stand-off over Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has put Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent forces on alert, dramatically ratcheting up the tensions in his stand-off with the West over his invasion of Ukraine.
The United States immediately denounced the latest escalation by the Russian President as “completely unacceptable”.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had earlier warned any use by Russia of its tactical battlefield nuclear weapons against Ukrainian forces would represent an “extremely serious escalation” of the conflict.
Russian television footage showed Mr Putin meeting with his defence minister and the chief of the general staff, and instructing them to put the nuclear deterrent on a “special regime of combat duty”.
He cited “aggressive statements” coming from Western powers and hard-hitting economic sanctions – which include the exclusion of Russian banks from the Swift global payments system – as reasons for the action.
“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading Nato
members made aggressive statements regarding our country,” he said.
The moves came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he had agreed to talks with
a Russian delegation on the Ukraine-Belarus border.
The Ukrainian leader had earlier rejected an offer of talks in Belarus, saying the Russian ally had been a launchpad for the invasion.
In a round of Sunday morning broadcast interviews, Ms Truss said Mr Putin may be prepared to resort to “the most unsavoury means” to suppress Ukraine.
With the Russian advance on Kyiv apparently bogged down in the face of fierce resistance, Ms Truss said the survival of Mr Putin’s regime could now be at stake if his invasion plan failed.
Asked about Russia’s arsenal of chemical and tactical nuclear weapons, she said: “I fear this conflict could be very, very bloody. I think it would be hugely devastating. We need to avoid this at all costs.”