Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a fervent supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned NATO allies on Thursday that a Russian loss in Ukraine may start a nuclear conflict.
In a telegram post, Medvedev, deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, noted: "The loss of a nuclear power in a conventional war can provoke the beginning of a nuclear war."
The Russian official made the remark as Western officials are set to meet the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Fox News reported.
Dmitry Medvedev, who was Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, has regularly threatened nuclear war since the Russia-Ukraine war started 11 months ago.
He said that the NATO and other Western defense chiefs should weigh the costs and benefits of their stance before meeting this Friday at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to deliberate their assistance for Ukraine, per Al Jazeera.
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Medvedev's words were in line with Russia's principles, and they should be taken seriously, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Moscow's policy enables a nuclear strike following "aggression" against Russia "with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened."
Medvedev's Remarks Indicate Russia's Insecurity
Dmitry Medvedev has regularly threatened nuclear war since Russia invaded Ukraine, but his admission that Russia may lose shows how worried Moscow is about escalating Western armament shipments to Ukraine.
About 90% of the world's nuclear weapons are held by Russia and the United States, the world's two major nuclear powers.
Ukraine has promised to fight until every Russian soldier is banished, while the United States and its allies have called Russia's incursion an imperial territorial grab, according to Reuters.
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