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Dmitrji Medvedev during a TV interview
Photo: IMAGO/Yekaterina Shtukina / IMAGO/ITAR-TASS
The Kremlin has again brought up the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with the state news agency RIA Novosti that Moscow can attack an enemy even if they only use conventional weapons.
“We have a special document on nuclear deterrence.
This document clearly sets out the reasons why the Russian Federation is entitled to use nuclear weapons,” the British Guardian quoted the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council as saying.
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“Number one is the situation when Russia is hit by a nuclear missile.
The second case is any use of other nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies." The third case is "an attack on a critical infrastructure that paralyzes our nuclear deterrent forces."
And the fourth case occurs "when an attack is carried out against Russia and its allies that endangers the very existence of the country itself, even without the use of nuclear weapons, i.e. with the use of conventional weapons," said Medvedev.
"A worthy answer"
He added that they are "determined to defend the independence and sovereignty of our country and to give no one the slightest reason to doubt that we are ready to provide a dignified response to any violation of our country and its independence." «.
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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was not seen for 12 days before making a brief appearance on Friday and addressing his generals on Saturday, also raised the issue of nuclear weapons.
In a video posted by the Russian Defense Ministry on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defense contracts with the Finance Ministry.
He said: 'We continue the advance delivery of arms and equipment through loans.
The priorities are long-range and high-precision weapons, aircraft equipment and maintaining the operational readiness of the Strategic Nuclear Forces.”
"Destroy the whole planet"
These statements prompted the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj
on Saturday to warn that Moscow posed a direct threat to the world during a video appearance at the Doha Forum in Qatar.
“Russia wants to boast that it can use nuclear weapons to destroy not just a specific country, but the entire planet,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia has around 6,000 nuclear warheads - it is the largest nuclear arsenal in the world.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia in Brussels on Wednesday to "stop nuclear saber-rattling".
He said, "A nuclear war can never be won and should not be fought."
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