Putin: There is no threat to Russia that justifies the use of nuclear weapons

Vladimir Putin stated that he currently does not see any threat to the existence of Russia that would justify the use of nuclear weapons, but he reiterated that Moscow may provide weapons to other countries for attacks on Western targets. The Russian President, speaking on Friday, June 8, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, said that the use of nuclear weapons is only justified in 'exceptional cases' and he does not believe such a situation has arisen at present. Nevertheless, he repeated his warning from a few days prior, stating that in response to the decision of some NATO members to allow Ukraine to use their weapons to attack Russian territory, 'Russia also reserves the right to arm Western enemies.' Putin warned of a 'global conflict' on the anniversary of World War II. He added, 'If they send weapons to the front lines and say these weapons can be used to attack our territory, why do we not have the right to do the same? Of course, I do not mean that we will do this tomorrow, as it may jeopardize international stability.' Putin did not specify which countries Russia would arm if it made such a decision. Recently, the governments of the United States and Germany allowed the Ukrainian army to use long-range weapons they send to target Russian territory. A Western official and an American senator, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue, stated on June 6 that the Ukrainian army had begun using these types of weapons to attack Russian territory. In a directive issued by President Joe Biden, the Ukrainian army is authorized to target locations within Russian territory that are considered support areas for recent attacks on the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine. Putin made these points during a Q&A session with a Kremlin-friendly television host at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which has become a key event for showcasing Russia's development and attracting foreign investment over the past two decades. Before the Q&A session, Putin stated in his speech at the forum that despite severe Western sanctions, the Russian economy is growing, and the country's economic relations with Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia are expanding. He claimed, 'Russia is one of the important players in global trade.' According to the Associated Press, some experts believe that the main engine of Russia's economic growth is the war in Ukraine, which has now gained significant economic importance for the Kremlin in addition to its political aspects. A significant portion of Western goods exports to Russia has stopped, and most major Western companies have either ceased operations in the country or continued working by transferring ownership to Russian investors in the form of Russian companies. Beyond these issues, the economic situation has not changed for the majority of the Russian population. A significant increase in Russia's defense budget has boosted the military industries, and the good salaries paid to volunteer soldiers have increased cash flow and consumption in the Russian economy.