🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin
Russias Putin reiterates nuclear threat against NATO
What happened
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a renewed threat to use nuclear weapons against the West, referencing a 19th-century literary principle that implies the potential for a nuclear response. This is the second such threat from Moscow in successive days, following a warning to NATO about the Kaliningrad region. Putin's comments were made at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow.
Why it matters
The threat has raised concerns about the potential for nuclear escalation, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stating that the alliance is ready to defend its territory but has no intention to make a threatening move. The nuclear threat is significant as it has been a recurring theme in Putin's rhetoric since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.
Key facts
- Putin made a similar threat in a diplomatic letter to NATO countries last month
- The letter did not mention nuclear weapons but referenced the use of "all forces and means" at Russia's disposal
- The US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty expired in February
- Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world.
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