Putin names condition under which nuclear weapons will be used

OLGA HLUSHCHENKO - TUESDAY, 29 MARCH 2022, 05:57

Dmitry Peskov, Russia's presidential spokesman, has named a condition under which Russia will use nuclear weapons, but he says it has no intention of doing so in a war with Ukraine.

Source: Peskov in an interview with US TV channel PBS, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine

According to Peskov: "We have no doubts that all the goals of our special operation in Ukraine will be fulfilled. There is no reason to use nuclear weapons in any development of events there (in Ukraine - ed.)."

"No-one is considering the use of nuclear weapons, or even the very idea of using them."

Details: Peskov denied a journalist's claim that Putin, when announcing the special operation, allegedly said that Russia would use nuclear weapons if third countries intervened in the conflict.

"I don't think so. He (Putin - ed.) warned against interfering. If such a thing happens, however, we have the means and possibilities to prevent it and punish those who try," he said.

Peskov, referring to Russia's nuclear policy, pointed out that Russia "can and will use nuclear weapons only if it is necessary to eliminate a threat to the very existence of Russia."

At the same time, he added that "it is necessary to separate the special operation in Ukraine and the existence of the state".

Background: Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitriy Polyanskiy, said that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if the country is provoked by NATO.

The deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, Dmitriy Medvedev, said that Russia may use nuclear weapons in four cases.