Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak sees a growing threat of Russia using nuclear weapons. “In view of the internal panic in the Russian Federation and increasing military defeats, the risk of using nuclear weapons is increasing,” Podolyak told the “Bild” newspaper.
However, it is not Ukraine that can and should stop Russia “in a nuclear frenzy.” “The issue of the possible use of nuclear weapons should be resolved exclusively at the level of member countries of the nuclear club and strictly within the framework of the nuclear deterrence doctrine,” said Podolyak. Russia must be aware of the responsibility and the possibility of “receiving an effective blow in response”.
Outgoing ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andriy Melnyk told the newspaper that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats about the use of nuclear weapons must be taken seriously. The West should therefore show him “the apocalyptic consequences of this suicide step”. “It’s not too late to prevent this catastrophic scenario,” said Melnyk.
On Friday in Moscow, Putin signed agreements to annex four regions in Ukraine that are fully or partially controlled by Moscow. The regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Cherson and Zaporizhia are affected. Western governments have unanimously condemned this as a “land grab” contrary to international law, which was preceded by “sham referendums” forced by Moscow in the territories.
With the annexation, the Russian leadership made it clear that it would consider future attacks on these regions as attacks on Russian territory. In this case, the number two on the Russian Security Council, former President Dmitry Medvedev, threatened to use “strategic nuclear weapons”.