Enlarge image
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Photo: Sergei Savostyanov / REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes his country is prepared for nuclear war.
From a military-technical point of view, Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if the existence of the Russian state is threatened, Putin said in an interview with the state news agency RIA and the broadcaster Rossiya-1.
Its nuclear weapons are more modern than those of other countries.
But there was never a need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Russia is ready for talks about Ukraine, but only if they are based on “realities.”
Putin recently warned the West against deploying troops in Ukraine and threatened to use nuclear weapons.
In his State of the Nation address, he said French President Macron's comments about possible ground troops in Ukraine could only be described as madness.
Russia has no ambitions to attack Europe.
However, if NATO contingents were deployed on Ukrainian soil, the consequences would be tragic.
Putin warned that the danger of nuclear war would be real in such a situation.
Russia's nuclear forces remain on alert.
The ruler in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, also threatened the West with using nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war last year.
In the event of war, Lukashenko said on Russian television that he could call Russian President Vladimir Putin at any time.
Putin announced the stationing of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus.
But these remained under Russia's control, said the Kremlin chief.
Regarding Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Putin said: "This is an absolutely senseless step (for Finland and Sweden) from the point of view of protecting their own national interests.
We had no troops there (on the Finnish border), now they will be there.
There were no destruction systems there, now they are being moved there.”
til/Reuters