Russian Kremlin Spokesperson: "Nuclear Weapons May Be Used If National Existence Is Threatened"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Kremlin spokesperson for Russia suggested the possibility of using the nuclear threat card aimed at the United States and the West, stating that nuclear weapons could be used if the existence of the state is threatened. This is interpreted as a show of force to pressure the acceptance of Russia's demands as peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have made little progress.

On the 22nd (local time), Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, in an interview with CNN, was asked whether he was confident that President Vladimir Putin would not use nuclear weapons. He warned, "We have an open national security concept, and there are all reasons to use nuclear weapons within it," adding, "If the existence of our state is threatened, we may use nuclear weapons according to the national security concept."

Peskov claimed that Ukraine is rather threatening Russia's security by raising the possibility of possessing nuclear weapons. He emphasized, "Although Ukraine handed over all nuclear weapons to Russia after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has begun to mention the possibility of possessing nuclear weapons on its own territory."

He continued, "For decades, we have tried to convey our concerns to the world, Europe, and the United States," and criticized the U.S. and the West, saying, "But no one listened to us, and Ukraine has been de-Russified by Western countries." Russia's public indication of the nuclear threat card is interpreted as due to the deadlock in negotiations with Ukraine.

Peskov said, "We recently handed over a draft peace agreement to Ukraine," but refused to disclose specific details, saying that disclosure would affect the negotiations. He claimed, "We have already explained our demands verbally to the Ukrainian side and clearly expressed them in writing." Russia's demands are presumed to mainly concern territorial issues such as Ukraine's neutralization, recognition of Russia's occupation of the Crimea Peninsula (Krym Bando), and the separation and independence of the Donbas region, as previously stated by the Russian government.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.