Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, echoed warnings from President Putin that the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine is “not a bluff,” adding that “Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons” if “the threat to Russia exceeds the established danger limit.”
Medvedev posted to his Telegram stating that “I believe that NATO will not directly intervene in the conflict even in this situation. After all, the security of Washington, London, Brussels is much more important for the North Atlantic Alliance than the fate of a dying Ukraine that no one needs.”
He also went on to post that “Overseas and European demagogues are not going to perish in a nuclear apocalypse. Therefore, they will swallow the use of any weapon in the current conflict.”
While addressing Russia last week, Putin accused the West of threatening to use nuclear weapons against Russia, warning that “To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction. … And when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal.”
While speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that both countries are taking the statements seriously. Zelensky said that “[Putin] wants to scare the whole world. These are the first steps of his nuclear blackmail. I don’t think he’s bluffing,” while Sullivan said “We have communicated directly, privately, at very high levels to the Kremlin, that any use of nuclear weapons will be met with catastrophic consequences for Russia.”
Russian officials and state media have routinely threatened the use of nuclear weapons since the start of the Ukraine invasion. Back in March, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN International that “We [Russia] have a concept of domestic security, and it’s public. You can read all the reasons for nuclear arms to be used. So if it is an existential threat for our country, then it can be used in accordance with our concept.” In May, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testified to Congress that the United States believes it is unlikely that Russia will deploy nuclear weapons in this conflict, but stated that they could if Russia feels there is an “existential” threat to the Motherland.
But what does Russia consider an “existential” threat? While a bit of a loose definition, it normally means that there is a severe and imminent threat to Russian national security and Russian territory. Now, with the recent referendum in Russian controlled areas of Ukraine and an impending annexation, the boundary of where this applies to Russia will extend. While Ukraine and many Western leaders have said they will not recognize the referendum or annexation, Russia will consider any attacks in these areas as attacks on Russia itself. The use of nuclear weapons will carry severe international consequences and so far there are no indications that Russia will deploy nuclear arms in Ukraine or even carry out a test launch as of yet, according to Western officials.
