Russian Military Leaders Just Discussed Tactical Nuclear Weapons Plans: The New York Times revealed on Wednesday how senior Russian military officials have engaged in talks about how Moscow may use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine; at the same time, Russia’s Foreign Ministry warns that a nuclear war should not be fought.
Russia’s Topol-M missile system TEL
According to The Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin was not part of the discussions, but top military leaders did talk about how nuclear weapons could help prevent Ukraine from making further gains on the battlefield.
The report described how the Biden administration was alarmed to hear that the discussions had taken place and that Russian military leaders are “frustrated” with the lack of progress Russia has made in Ukraine even after the annexation of the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
When asked about the report, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby refused to confirm the conversation but did say that the White House has not yet seen any evidence the Russians are preparing to use tactical nukes.
But Is Putin Walking Back Nuclear Threats Again?
The Kremlin once again appears to be walking back a slew of threats from Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. A statement posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry website now downplays the possibility of a nuclear conflict.
“Russia is strictly and consistently guided by the tenet that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the statement reads, adding that the Kremlin’s position is unambiguous and will not allow for “expansive interpretation.” It indicates that Moscow is keen to paint a picture of Russian opposition to nuclear conflict.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also told Britain’s Sky News this week that he doesn’t believe Russia will follow through with threats to use nuclear weapons, suggesting Putin would be “crazy” to do it.
Johnson described how Putin launching a nuclear strike would be a “total disaster” for his country that would cause an immediate “cryogenic economic freeze,” and suggested Putin would risk losing much of the “middle ground of global tacit acquiescence that he’s had.”
No longer in No. 10, Johnson remains in the political spotlight, announcing this week that he intends to attend the COP27 climate change conference, forcing new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to U-turn on a decision not to attend. Johnson also remains one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s closest allies, with reports revealing plans to launch a charitable fund to help the country. Johnson remains deeply knowledgeable of the dynamics surrounding the war in Ukraine and his suggestion that Putin is unlikely to deploy nuclear weapons appears to mirror the message coming from the Kremlin.
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It remains to be seen, however, whether the Kremlin wants the world to believe that the Russian government is opposed to nuclear conflict because it’s true, or because the Kremlin is still considering deploying a dirty bomb and blaming the attack on Ukraine.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
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