Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday that the possibility of nuclear war is increasing.
Putin acknowledged that the threat of nuclear war is rising at a discussion with the Russian Human Rights Council at the Kremlin.
Putin: Russia Would Use Nuclear Weaposn if Enemy Strikes
Regarding the notion that Russia would never use such weapons first, it follows that Moscow would never be able to use them, either, given how unlikely it would be for us to do so in the event of an assault on their territory.
The Russian leader said that while the US has spread its nuclear weapons throughout most of Europe, Russia had not done so and had no plans to do so. Instead, the Russian leader vowed to "protect its allies with all means at its disposal, if necessary."
Per CNN, Putin claims that Russia has not lost its mind and that he still sees nuclear weapons as a deterrence. He cautioned, though, that Moscow would not go racing around the world brandishing these weapons like a razor.
Moreover, Putin praised Wednesday's contested takeover of Ukrainian territory as a significant military triumph and said it had turned the Sea of Azov into Russia's inland sea, USA Today reported.
Russia and Ukraine share a boundary at the Sea of Azov, but Putin intruded on Ukrainian territory. Speaking to members of his Human Rights Council, Putin said that even Peter the Great battled for sea access centuries ago.
Additionally, he said that recent fake referendums held in the annexations showed that the locals desire to be a part of Russia. Putin did admit, though, that the "special military operation" - which he will not refer to as a war - "may be a protracted procedure."
According to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Russia is attempting to "freeze" the conflict to gather its soldiers over the winter before launching a "major offensive" in the spring. He affirmed that NATO will keep providing Ukraine with weapons and support despite worries that Western weapon stocks could be running low.
Stoltenberg stated that he was unaware of any drone strikes that Ukraine may have carried out in Russia, but added that Kyiv was fighting to defend itself while Moscow bombed civilian facilities.
US Slams Putin's Threat
Meanwhile, after Putin speculated on the mounting risks of nuclear conflict but stated Moscow would not strike first, the United States on Wednesday denounced "loose talk" on nuclear weapons.
When questioned about Putin's comments, US State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to respond directly but stated, "We think any loose talk about nuclear weapons is absolutely irresponsible."
A nuclear war is something that must never be waged and can never be won, according to Price, who said that since the end of the Cold War, nuclear powers all over the world, including China, India, the United States, and Russia itself, have made this apparent.
In his speech, Putin compared Russia to the US, citing the US' placement of nuclear weapons in NATO partners in Europe. US officials have expressed concern that if Russia feels defeated on the battlefield, it would use nuclear weapons and fabricate a tale to explain its actions.
The two nuclear weapon nations with the most nuclear arsenals, the United States and Russia, don't formally have a no-first-use policy, as per The Strait Times. President Joe Biden recently reviewed the US's posture and came to the sole conclusion that nuclear weapons should only be utilized in "extreme situations."
Russia recently called off nuclear weapons control negotiations that were set to take place in Cairo, accusing the US of being hostile in its attempts to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Related Article : Vladimir Putin Lost Hundreds of Generals, Colonels Since Start of War with Ukraine; Annexed Land Adrift 70% of Russian Soldiers in a Week
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