Putin Says There Is No Need to Use Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine but Does Not Rule Out the Option

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has a simple and clear message to NATO: do not overdo military support for Ukraine, otherwise you will expose yourselves to the risk of conflict with Russia, which could quickly escalate into a nuclear war. While the war in Ukraine is slowly progressing in favor of Moscow, Putin announced that he does not need nuclear weapons to achieve his goals, but at the same time, he states it is a mistake for the West to think that Russia would never use them. On June 21, he mentioned that Moscow is considering a possible change in its doctrine regarding the use of nuclear weapons. The current doctrine states that Russia may use such weapons in response to a nuclear attack or in the event of a conventional attack that poses an existential threat to the country. He made these remarks a day after visiting North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons. Moscow's nuclear messages come at a time when NATO allies are busy supporting the exhausted Ukrainian forces, signaling the most dangerous phase of the war. Moscow has conducted exercises with its tactical nuclear weapons in southern Russia and with its ally Belarus, deploying several systems, including the Iskander missile system, nuclear-capable fighter jets, and naval missiles, as shown in videos released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The Kremlin considers these exercises a response to the West regarding the deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine and the allowance of longer-range weapons for limited attacks on Russian territory by Kyiv. Heather Williams, a senior expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the Associated Press, "Reliance on nuclear threats and messages has been a consistent trend in Russia's policies amid the Ukraine war." This expert believes that Russian leaders use nuclear threats as a tool to demonstrate the country's commitment to victory in the war with Ukraine, hoping to intimidate Western intervention. The United States and NATO have criticized Putin's nuclear threats but say they have not observed any changes in Russia's nuclear posture that would require accountability. After initial setbacks in Ukraine, Putin stated that Moscow is ready to use "all tools" to protect Russian territory, fueling concerns that he might resort to tactical nuclear weapons to stop Kyiv's advances. The Russian President has toned down his rhetoric after Ukraine's counteroffensive failed to achieve its objectives. Following recent military successes for Russia, Putin stated that Moscow does not need nuclear weapons to win the war with Ukraine. However, he warned that Kyiv's attacks on Russian territory with Western long-range weapons would bring significant tension, as these attacks involve Western intelligence and military personnel, a claim that Western officials deny. Two months ago, Ukraine targeted Russian radar facilities with drones, one of which damaged a radar in the Krasnodar region, while another targeted similar facilities in the Ural region. Both are part of Russia's warning system for detecting intercontinental ballistic missile launches. Radar attacks could serve as a trigger for the use of nuclear weapons under Moscow's "nuclear doctrine." Sergey Karaganov, a foreign policy expert affiliated with the Kremlin, urged Putin at a meeting in St. Petersburg to aim the "nuclear pistol" at "Western enemies" to achieve victory in Ukraine. Putin cautiously responded that he does not see any security threat that would necessitate the use of Russia's nuclear weapons. At the same time, he stated that Moscow is considering changes to its nuclear doctrine. Russian drone attacks on energy facilities in northeastern Ukraine have caused power outages. Russia's attacks on eastern and northern Ukraine have led to water shortages and the deaths of several civilians. Ukraine has received its third Patriot air defense system from Germany. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine is increasing its air defense capacity by up to two times. A NATO meeting in Washington indicated that the world's largest military alliance is preparing to play a "more significant role" in the Pacific. The Ukrainian army has retreated from its positions in Chasiv Yar. The agreement between Putin and Kim has led South Korea to summon the Russian ambassador. Moscow is reviewing its nuclear doctrine; Putin has also threatened Seoul. Putin has entered North Korea, and the leaders of the two countries will focus on signing a new treaty.