By Ben Kerrigan-
Russia has warned that the world’s five nuclear powers are ‘on the brink’ of war. The nation’s foreign ministry said it feared the nuclear powers were ‘on the brink of a direct armed conflict’ and that the West must stop ‘encouraging provocations with weapons of mass destruction, which can lead to catastrophic consequences’.
“We are strongly convinced that in the current complicated and turbulent situation, caused by irresponsible and impudent actions aimed at undermining our national security, the most immediate task is to avoid any military clash of nuclear powers,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russia added that it remained committed to a joint declaration issued in January with the other declared nuclear nations – the US, China, UK and France – which reaffirmed their commitment to averting a nuclear war.
“We fully reaffirm our commitment to the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon states’ leaders on the prevention of nuclear war and the avoidance of an arms race from Jan. 3, 2022,” the ministry said.
Serious fears the Kremlin’s brutal conflict with Ukraine could lead to Vladimir Putin opting for the nuclear option have long been shared among world leaders since the first assault into enemy territory in February.
Last month it was claimed unspecified nuclear weapons tests ordered by the Russian president failed, with some suggesting they had been sabotaged
Russia added that it remained committed to a joint declaration issued in January with the other declared nuclear nations – the US, China, UK and France – which reaffirmed their commitment to averting a nuclear war.
The West has accused Moscow of being behind a ramping up of nuclear rhetoric following its invasion of Ukraine in February – most recently by repeatedly accusing Kyiv of planning to use a radioactive “dirty bomb” without offering evidence. Kyiv has denied having any such plan.
This is not the first time Russia has indicated that a nuclear war is very possible.
In September, Putin said he was “not bluffing” when he stated that Russia was prepared to use “all available means” to defend its territory. He also said the United States had created a “precedent” at the end of the Second World War when it dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.
In September, Putin said he was “not bluffing” when he stated that Russia was prepared to use “all available means” to defend its territory. He also said the United States had created a “precedent” at the end of the Second World War when it dropped two atomic bombs on Japan
Shortly afterwards, Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Chechnya region and a key ally of Putin’s, called for Russia to use a “low-yield nuclear weapon” in Ukraine.
Moscow also frequently accuses Kyiv of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and alleged at the start of the war that the Western NATO alliance planned to use Ukraine as a bridgehead to threaten Russia – allegations denied by Ukraine and NATO.
Last week, President Putin oversaw a military drill held in Russia that the Russian Defence Ministry said was intended to simulate a “huge nuclear strike”.
Western officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin has been ‘weakened’ by the invasion of Ukraine but the
The Russian military has suffered a series of humiliating blows on the battlefield in recent weeks, with the momentum behind Ukraine’s armed forces heading into the winter.