Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning to the West on Wednesday, stating that Russia was technically prepared for nuclear conflict and that any deployment of US troops to Ukraine would be seen as a significant escalation of the war.
Speaking ahead of a March 15-17 election that is expected to extend his presidency for another six years, Putin emphasized that the scenario of nuclear war was not imminent. However, he asserted that Russia was prepared from a military-technical standpoint.
Putin emphasized that if the US were to deploy troops to Russian territory or Ukraine, Russia would interpret it as intervention. He suggested that there were experts in both countries who understood the implications of such actions.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has strained relations between Russia and the West, with Putin warning multiple times that sending troops to fight in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear confrontation.
Since February 2022, when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, the conflict has escalated into a full-scale war. Despite Western promises to defeat Russia in Ukraine, Russian forces currently control a portion of Ukrainian territory.
Regarding the use of nuclear weapons, Putin reiterated that Russia's nuclear doctrine outlined the circumstances in which it might use such weapons. He emphasized that Russia was open to negotiations on Ukraine based on reality, not on unrealistic expectations.
However, he also suggested that if the US were to conduct nuclear tests, Russia might respond in kind, although he stressed the need for careful consideration before taking such actions.
Putin dismissed reports of Russian officials discussing a nuclear strike in Ukraine in 2022, stating that Russia had never faced a situation requiring the use of weapons of mass destruction in the conflict.
Overall, Putin's comments underscored Russia's readiness for serious talks on Ukraine while maintaining a firm stance on potential military escalations and nuclear capabilities.
