A Moscow official said that Russia would only use nuclear weapons if the country’s survival was threatened. There has been much conjecture regarding Vladimir Putin’s willingness to deploy nuclear weapons.
Fiona Hill, Donald Trump’s British-born ex-National Security Advisor, even warned that “nuclear is on the table.”
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told PBS Newshour on Monday: “Of course, any conclusion of the operation (in Ukraine) is not a basis for using a nuclear bomb.”.
“We have a security doctrine that clearly stipulates that only when there is a threat to the survival of the state, in our nation, we may and will use nuclear weapons to eliminate the threat to our country’s existence.”
Peskov was also questioned about remarks made by US Vice President Joe Biden in Warsaw.
Vladimir Putin was branded as a “butcher” by the 46th President, who claimed that the Russian leader should be removed from power.
“Brutality will never crush the will to be free,” he declared.
“Ukraine will never be a Russian win.”
“For God’s sake, this man cannot continue in power,” Biden added.
Mr. Biden’s words, according to Peskov, were not only “very disturbing,” but also a “personal attack.”
“Of course, that is utterly inappropriate,” he continued.
“It is not for the President of the United States to decide who will be and who is the President of the Russian Federation.”
Western allies were likewise critical of Mr. Biden’s remarks.
Despite Paris’ dissatisfaction with the AUKUS submarine pact, French President Emmanuel Macron replied, stating, “I think we must do everything to avoid the situation getting out of hand.”
“I wouldn’t use such language since I’m still in negotiations with President Putin.”
According to a Downing Street official, Boris Johnson is not seeking regime change in Moscow and believes it is up to the Russian people to decide how they want to be governed.
Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Defence Select Committee and a former defence minister, termed Mr Biden’s statements “unwise.”
The MP for Bournemouth East went on to say: “It is up to the Russian people to come to this (clear) conclusion.
“Putin/Xi (and many Russians) will now interpret’regime change’ as POTUS’ overarching goal, in addition to helping Ukraine.
“Putin will twist this, dig in his heels, and fight even harder.”
Peskov, on the other hand, used his PBS appearance to refute charges that Russia purposefully attacked civilians in Ukraine.
“They’re not shelling buildings,” he explained. They are not renting out units.
“They are not shelling civilian targets. They’re merely shelling, and their target is military infrastructure.”
Last Monday, the United States claimed that Russian soldiers had committed war crimes during their assault on Ukraine.
Since then, the International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened an inquiry into Putin’s invasion.
