In the wake of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has accused Western nations of fueling the conflict. In an interview with state-media outlet VGTRK, he emphasized that Russia must be prepared to enact its updated nuclear strategy as tensions rise.
Peskov noted, “Western countries are increasingly getting involved in the Ukraine conflict. They show no intention of halting it but are instead pushing to help Ukraine prevail.” This accusation comes as NATO has been providing significant diplomatic and military support to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The friction between NATO and Russia shows no signs of easing, especially as NATO officials have expressed concerns about the real possibility of direct conflict with Moscow. Indeed, Russia possesses the largest nuclear arsenal worldwide, a fact highlighted by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICANW). This comes in light of repeated nuclear threats from Putin and his senior officials towards Kyiv and its Western allies.
Recently, Putin announced changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which, according to Peskov, are currently being formalized. He asserted that the heightened tensions along Russia’s borders, exacerbated by nuclear powers’ involvement in the conflict, necessitated these revisions. Peskov stated, “We must obviously make decisions and be ready to implement them.”
During a recent meeting of Russia’s Security Council, Putin indicated that a severe threat to Russia could arise from a non-nuclear power with backing from a nuclear nation, signaling possible nuclear retaliation. Although he didn’t name specific countries, recent developments include Ukraine utilizing advanced missiles from the U.S., U.K., and France against Russian targets.
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Peskov added that “neither the U.S. nor NATO threaten Russia, and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric will not enhance its security.” He affirmed continued support for Ukraine as it protects its sovereignty from Russian aggression.
Putin has previously sanctioned tactical nuclear drills, and in August, Russia prepared its military for potential combat use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons, as reported by the Russian defense ministry. As noted in a report by the Federation of American Scientists, Russia currently has around 5,580 nuclear warheads, while the U.S. possesses approximately 5,044.