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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers an annual address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, at Moscow's Gostiny Dvor; the Federal Assembly of Russia consists of the Russian State Duma and the Russian Federation Council, in Moscow, Russia on February 29, 2024
(Photo : Kremlin Press Office /Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Putin Warns of Nuclear War If NATO Deploys Troops to Ukraine
"The escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop," the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said in response.
Feb 29, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that if Western nations started sending troops to Ukraine, it could lead to nuclear warfare.
Putin made the comments in his annual state of the nation address. They came partially in response to French President Emmanuel Macron stating on Monday that sending troops to Ukraine couldn't be ruled out.
"They must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization," Putin said. "Don't they get that?"
The Russian leader also touted the country's development of hypersonic nuclear missiles, which can travel over five times faster than the speed of sound. "Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness," he said.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said in response to Putin's remarks that "the escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop."
"President Putin’s return to overt nuclear threats today is unacceptable," the group added.
The escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop and President Putin’s return to overt nuclear threats today is unacceptable – as any & all nuclear threats – and must be universally condemned. Talk of nuclear war must not become normalised https://t.co/N3gcUyRsY7
— ICAN (@nuclearban) February 29, 2024
Leaked files that were released by The Financial Times on Wednesday revealed when Russia's military would consider deploying a nuclear weapon. The documents, dated between 2008 and 2014, indicated different scenarios that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. For example, if 20% of Russia's strategic ballistic missile submarines were destroyed or if three airfields were destroyed.
Putin has referenced the possibility of nuclear war multiple times since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February, 2022. His latest comments, though, are seen as some of the most overt statements he's made on the issue. Putin chided western nations for their rhetoric regarding Russia's intentions on Thursday.
"Recently there have been more and more unsubstantiated accusations against Russia, for example that we are allegedly going to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Such innuendo... is a ploy to draw us into negotiations on their terms, which are favorable only to the United States," he said. "On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, they simply want to show their citizens and everyone else that they still rule the world."
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that if Western nations started sending troops to Ukraine, it could lead to nuclear warfare.
Putin made the comments in his annual state of the nation address. They came partially in response to French President Emmanuel Macron stating on Monday that sending troops to Ukraine couldn't be ruled out.
"They must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization," Putin said. "Don't they get that?"
The Russian leader also touted the country's development of hypersonic nuclear missiles, which can travel over five times faster than the speed of sound. "Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness," he said.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said in response to Putin's remarks that "the escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop."
"President Putin’s return to overt nuclear threats today is unacceptable," the group added.
The escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop and President Putin’s return to overt nuclear threats today is unacceptable – as any & all nuclear threats – and must be universally condemned. Talk of nuclear war must not become normalised https://t.co/N3gcUyRsY7
— ICAN (@nuclearban) February 29, 2024
Leaked files that were released by The Financial Times on Wednesday revealed when Russia's military would consider deploying a nuclear weapon. The documents, dated between 2008 and 2014, indicated different scenarios that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. For example, if 20% of Russia's strategic ballistic missile submarines were destroyed or if three airfields were destroyed.
Putin has referenced the possibility of nuclear war multiple times since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February, 2022. His latest comments, though, are seen as some of the most overt statements he's made on the issue. Putin chided western nations for their rhetoric regarding Russia's intentions on Thursday.
"Recently there have been more and more unsubstantiated accusations against Russia, for example that we are allegedly going to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Such innuendo... is a ploy to draw us into negotiations on their terms, which are favorable only to the United States," he said. "On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, they simply want to show their citizens and everyone else that they still rule the world."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that if Western nations started sending troops to Ukraine, it could lead to nuclear warfare.
Putin made the comments in his annual state of the nation address. They came partially in response to French President Emmanuel Macron stating on Monday that sending troops to Ukraine couldn't be ruled out.
"They must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization," Putin said. "Don't they get that?"
The Russian leader also touted the country's development of hypersonic nuclear missiles, which can travel over five times faster than the speed of sound. "Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness," he said.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said in response to Putin's remarks that "the escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop."
"President Putin’s return to overt nuclear threats today is unacceptable," the group added.
The escalation of bellicose rhetoric over Ukraine needs to stop and President Putin’s return to overt nuclear threats today is unacceptable – as any & all nuclear threats – and must be universally condemned. Talk of nuclear war must not become normalised https://t.co/N3gcUyRsY7
— ICAN (@nuclearban) February 29, 2024
Leaked files that were released by The Financial Times on Wednesday revealed when Russia's military would consider deploying a nuclear weapon. The documents, dated between 2008 and 2014, indicated different scenarios that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. For example, if 20% of Russia's strategic ballistic missile submarines were destroyed or if three airfields were destroyed.
Putin has referenced the possibility of nuclear war multiple times since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February, 2022. His latest comments, though, are seen as some of the most overt statements he's made on the issue. Putin chided western nations for their rhetoric regarding Russia's intentions on Thursday.
"Recently there have been more and more unsubstantiated accusations against Russia, for example that we are allegedly going to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Such innuendo... is a ploy to draw us into negotiations on their terms, which are favorable only to the United States," he said. "On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, they simply want to show their citizens and everyone else that they still rule the world."
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