Russian leader’s speech marks biggest escalation of Ukraine war, and raises fears of unprecedented disaster
“Putin’s statements go beyond the Russian nuclear doctrine, which only suggests Russian first use in a conventional war when the very existence of the state is threatened,” said Andrey Baklitskiy,senior researcher in the Weapons of Mass Destruction and other Strategic Weapons Programme at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
“Coming from the person who has the sole decision-making power regarding Russian nuclear weapons, this will have to be taken seriously.” Instead, Galeotti argued, the apocalyptic threats could have been intended to force the west and Ukraine into accepting Russia’s territorial gains in the war.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia-Ukraine war latest: what we know on day 210 of the invasionWorld leaders condemn intention by Moscow-held regions of Ukraine to vote on annexation by Russia
Read more »
'Sham referendums': Plan for occupied regions of Ukraine to vote on joining Russia met with outragePro-Russian figures announced referendums for 23 - 27 September in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, representing around 15 per cent of Ukrainian territory, or an area about the size of Hungary.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war latest: what we know on day 209 of the invasionForensic experts exhume 146 bodies from mass burial site at Izium; Russia loses full control of Luhansk as Ukraine retakes village
Read more »
Ukraine accuses Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' after missile strikeA Russian missile has blasted a crater close to a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, damaging nearby industrial equipment but not hitting its three reactors.
Read more »
Ukraine war to take centre stage at UN as west and Russia vie for supportThe general assembly is expected to see fresh tussles over future of Ukraine, as well as the threats of famine and the climate crisis in the global south
Read more »
Russia is struggling to annexe Ukraine, but China is annexing Russia pretty effortlesslyVladimir Putin’s bungled invasion of Ukraine has damaged his political standing at home and weakened Russia’s position abroad.
Read more »