President Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia's state of preparedness for potential conflict, including nuclear war, but stressed that the current situation doesn't necessarily lead to such extreme measures. In an interview with state media, Putin reaffirmed Russia's capability and willingness to employ nuclear weapons if its sovereignty faced a genuine threat. He underlined that Russia's military readiness is robust, indicating that any deployment of American troops on Russian soil or in Ukraine would be perceived as intervention.
Putin acknowledged that while tensions exist between Russia and the United States, both nations possess experts in Russian-American relations and strategic deterrence, which could prevent an immediate escalation to nuclear confrontation. He reiterated that Russia's nuclear doctrine outlines specific circumstances under which it would consider using nuclear arms, emphasizing that weapons exist to be utilized according to established principles.
Regarding the possibility of nuclear testing, Putin indicated that if the United States were to conduct such tests, Russia might respond in kind, though he emphasized the need for careful consideration before taking such actions.
Throughout the interview, Putin maintained that Russia has never deemed it necessary to resort to nuclear weapons in the conflict with Ukraine, which has persisted since February 2022. He questioned the rationale behind deploying weapons of mass destruction and emphasized that such extreme measures have never been warranted.
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