Russian President Vladimir Putin’s risk to make use of nuclear weapons have to be taken critically, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Sunday, warning that the Kremlin could resort to “nuclear blackmail” as its invasion of Ukraine falters.
In an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned it could be a mistake to underestimate Moscow’s willingness to make use of its nuclear stockpile, which is the biggest on the earth.
“Now, it may very well be a actuality,” he mentioned.
“He needs to scare the entire world,” Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned of Mr. Putin. “These are the primary steps of his nuclear blackmail. I don’t suppose he’s bluffing. I believe the world is deterring it and containing this risk. We have to preserve placing strain on him and never permit him to proceed.”
Mr. Zelenskyy’s feedback got here simply days after Mr. Putin final week introduced a significant army mobilization of his nation’s reserve troops. In a speech saying that call-up, the Russian chief made thinly veiled threats of nuclear battle towards the West.
“Those that are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons have to be conscious that the prevailing winds may flip in direction of their facet,” Mr.Putin mentioned, based on his nation’s state-run TASS information company.
“Russian residents have to be assured: the territorial integrity of our motherland, our independence and freedom will likely be ensured. Let me stress it once more: this will likely be ensured by all of our accessible means,” he mentioned.
U.S. and Western intelligence officers concern that Russia might use nuclear weapons as its invasion of Ukraine falters. Russian troops in current weeks have been pushed out of key cities reminiscent of Kharkiv by a significant Ukrainian counterattack. In some components of Ukraine, U.S. army officers have mentioned that the Ukrainian offensive resulted in a “rout” of Russian troops.
These defeats have led to immense strain on Mr. Putin at house, the place criticism of Russia’s battle effort has grown louder. Towards that backdrop, U.S. nationwide safety officers additionally say they’re taking the nuclear threats critically.
“It’s a matter that we now have to take lethal critically as a result of it’s a matter of paramount seriousness — the potential use of nuclear weapons for the primary time because the second World Struggle,” White Home Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan informed “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “Now we have communicated straight, privately, at very excessive ranges to the Kremlin, that any use of nuclear weapons will likely be met with catastrophic penalties for Russia, that america in our allies will reply decisively. And we now have been clear and particular about what that can entail.”
“Now we have, in public, been equally clear, as a matter of precept, that america will reply decisively if Russia makes use of nuclear weapons and that we are going to proceed to assist Ukraine in its efforts to defend its nation and defend its democracy,” Mr. Sullivan mentioned.