Putin Warns of Nuclear War Risk Amid West's Troop Deployment in Ukraine
Russian President Putin highlights the potential nuclear war threat as Western troops move towards Ukraine, escalating tensions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned the West about the potential for nuclear conflict if they choose to deploy their troops in support of Ukraine. He emphasized that Moscow possesses the capability to target Western entities with its arsenal. During his annual state of the nation speech to Russia's elite, Putin dismissed allegations of Russia planning an assault on Europe as baseless, while also issuing a stark warning about the possibility of using nuclear weapons against Western nations.
Putin criticized the idea proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron about the potential deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, which was swiftly rejected by several European leaders.
Putin expressed concern about the threats posed by such actions, emphasizing the risk of a conflict involving nuclear weapons that could lead to the destruction of civilization. He questioned whether those involved in these decisions truly grasp the gravity of the situation.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia possesses weapons that can hit targets on foreign territory. He emphasized that these weapons serve as a deterrent to potential adversaries. Additionally, Putin has escalated the nuclear threat by transferring tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus and exploring the development of a nuclear space weapon capable of destroying satellites.
His address, which lasted more than two hours and broke his previous record, was reported by Russian state media TASS. It came just before the March 17 presidential election in Russia, where Putin is expected to secure a fifth term and potentially extend his rule until at least 2030.
During his address, Putin praised the progress of Russia's military, noting that they are "confidently advancing in a number of operational areas" and are liberating more territories. He also mentioned that the military now "firmly holds the initiative" in Ukraine, following Kyiv's recent withdrawal from the eastern town of Avdiivka.
Russia has confirmed its plans to increase its military presence along its Western border in order to counter the perceived threats posed by NATO expansion. This decision comes in response to Finland and Sweden joining the alliance after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This is an ongoing story and will be continuously updated.
