Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again warned Western nations that the Kremlin is prepared for a nuclear war. “From a military-technical point of view, we are certainly ready,” Putin told Rossiya-1 TV channel and RIA news agency when asked if Russia was truly ready for a nuclear war.
Putin’s statement was made to warn Western countries that Russia will not remain idle if the US deploys troops to Ukraine to assist Kyiv. He stated that sending US troops to Ukraine would only lead to a higher escalation of the conflict, including the possibility of nuclear war.
However, Putin mentioned that Moscow is not “rushing” into such a nuclear war scenario. The Russian leader also assessed that there is no urgency to use nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine.
“[In the US] there are quite a few specialists in the field of Russia-US relations and in the field of strategic deterrence. Therefore, I don’t feel like everything here is being rushed (for a nuclear confrontation). But we are ready for it,” Putin said, as quoted by Reuters on Wednesday (13/3).
Putin’s nuclear warning came alongside an offer for talks on Ukraine as part of the demarcation of European security in the post-Cold War era. However, the US said Putin is not yet ready for such serious talks.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a severe rupture in the Kremlin’s relations with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Throughout this invasion, Putin has repeatedly warned that the West risks triggering a nuclear war if it sends troops to fight in Ukraine.
In February 2022, Russia sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine, sparking a full-scale war between the two countries since the conflict erupted in 2014.
The Potential for Nuclear War
Western nations are struggling to assist Kyiv against Moscow, which now controls nearly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
At the same time, Russia has repeatedly warned the West about the threat of nuclear war if they intervene further.
Nevertheless, Washington has not seen any significant changes in Russia’s military posture. However, the US and the West remain vigilant about the Kremlin’s threats.
