Ex-Russian president names conditions for using nuclear weapons — RT Russia and the former Soviet Union
Such a scenario would only happen if Russia’s very existence was at stake, says Dmitry Medvedev
Moscow would only resort to nuclear weapons in four scenarios, all of which pose an existential threat to the Russian state, former President Dmitry Medvedev told French media on Friday.
Speaking to LCI TV channel, Medvedev was asked if Russian military doctrine allows the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The former president replied that Moscow’s nuclear position has been made public and there is nothing secret about it.
« There are four reasons for the use of nuclear weapons. For the sake of interest and for the French public, I will name them: the launching of nuclear missiles, the use of nuclear weapons, attacks against critical infrastructures which control nuclear weapons, or other actions which threaten the existence of [Russian] State« , he said, adding that none of these situations had occurred so far.
Commenting on the possible use of tactical atomic weapons, or weapons containing depleted uranium, the former president noted that Russia has never put them into action, unlike some Western countries.
« Over the past 20-30 years, NATO states have used them quite actively in Yugoslavia and Iraq. There is a certain uncertainty around this subject, with very tragic consequences. So, in this sense, we must first look at what Western countries have done in certain situationssaid Medvedev.
The former president stressed that Russia’s response « correspond to the magnitude of the threats that this country facesand that Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine, which began in late February, is a defensive measure.
According to Medvedev, one of the reasons for the attack was a statement by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who at one point said that kyiv did not rule out restoring its nuclear potential. « Apparently he wanted to scare us, but in the end he created an even heavier atmosphere, which eventually forced the Russian Federation to launch a special military operation., » he said.
Last week, Ivan Nechaev, deputy press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Moscow does not need to use a nuclear option in Ukraine, and that Russia is a responsible nuclear power, which will not use its atomic arsenal only if its very existence is under threat.
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