Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has engaged in nuclear sabre-rattling, hinting at the catastrophic consequences of trying to defeat a nuclear power like Russia. Today, President Putin asserted that Russia wouldn’t need to use nuclear weapons to secure victory in Ukraine. He made this claim during a panel discussion at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, often referred to as ‘Russia’s Davos’.
In a rare moment, Putin appeared less extreme compared to Sergei Karaganov, the hawkish Russian foreign policy expert questioning him. Last year, Karaganov advocated for a pre-emptive nuclear strike, and today, he suggested threatening the West with a “nuclear pistol” over Ukraine. While Putin’s language was less severe, he maintained a firm stance. He did not rule out potential changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which outlines the conditions under which Russia would deploy nuclear weapons. Putin mentioned that this doctrine is adaptable, and changes could be considered in response to global developments, including nuclear weapons testing.
Read more: Putin Reiterates Russia’s Willingness To Provide Weapons To Western Adversaries
Putin issued a stark warning to European countries supporting Ukraine, noting that Russia possesses many more tactical nuclear weapons than are present on the European continent, even if the United States deploys theirs. He added that Europe lacks a developed early warning system, rendering it relatively defenseless in this context. Tactical nuclear weapons are smaller warheads designed to target specific areas without causing widespread radioactive fallout.
The St Petersburg International Economic Forum has been a surreal mix of messages. On one hand, it projects an image of Russia being open for business and cooperation. On the other, the reality is that Russia is in the third year of its war in Ukraine and is the most heavily sanctioned country globally, leading to heightened tensions with the West.
Earlier this week, in a meeting with international news agency chiefs in St Petersburg, Putin hinted at the possibility of supplying advanced conventional long-range weapons to other nations to target the West. This was in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory. He reiterated this idea today, stating that while Russia hasn’t supplied these weapons yet, it reserves the right to do so to states or entities under military pressure from countries arming Ukraine.
Putin provided no specifics about potential recipients of these weapons. Russian state TV host Vladimir Solovyov emphasized that Russia has numerous opportunities to retaliate against those who harm it. Dismissing Western skepticism as dangerous, he warned that underestimating Russia could have severe consequences, cautioning against provoking the nation with the belief that it is merely bluffing.
