Russia distances itself from the use of nuclear weapons - at least maybe

Created: 04/20/2022, 22:03

By: Nadja Austel

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is pursuing his own vision of justice.

(archive image).

© IMAGO/Mikhail Metzel

Will Russia ever use tactical nuclear weapons?

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov comments on the fears that the Ukraine war is triggering in the world.

Moscow – The Ukraine war* and implied threats by Vladimir Putin* that Russia* could use nuclear weapons in an emergency are reviving a long-forgotten fear* – namely that of a Third World War with nuclear strikes.

Unequivocal words about it are hardly ever used, the threat thrives on the uncertainty.

And that continues to fuel speculation.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was therefore unusually clear in an interview with India Today.

“Will Russia ever use tactical nuclear weapons [in the Ukraine war]?” the interviewer asks him straight out.

Lavrov gestures defensively and replies: "We never brought it up.

He [Zelenskyj] introduced that.

So his secret services must have given him some information about it.” He also could not comment on it because he was not the “suitable person” for it.

Ukraine Conflict – Russia and Putin: Two Opinions, One Goal?

Almost simultaneously on Wednesday (April 20, 2022), Russia reported the first successful test of a Sarmat missile.

The new projectile has a very long range and can be equipped with nuclear warheads.

The weapon will "make those who, in the heat of aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country think twice," President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address.

This "unique" missile will strengthen the combat potential of the Russian armed forces and "reliably ensure Russia's security against external threats," Putin said.

You can "bypass all modern air defense systems".

Only Russian-made components were used in their development.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US government does not see the recent Russian missile test as a "threat to the US* or its allies."

Moscow* have informed Washington "duly" about the test, as agreed in international agreements.

Kirby commented, "It wasn't a surprise."

Ukraine war: Russia again denies war crimes

The statements made by government spokesmen Lavrov and Kirby could almost be reassuring if it weren't for Putin's words, which once again make one think of saber-rattling.

And the remaining points that India Today discussed with Lavrov in the interview tend to raise doubts rather than relax.

"We only attacked military targets," he says.

However, after all the reports of killings of civilians by Russian units* that have been independently verified, that is quite difficult.

The recently published audio recordings of Russian soldiers* about murders have so far been more persuasive than the Foreign Minister's assurances.

Finally, Lavrov clearly denies that Russia had anything to do with the massacre in Bucha: “The place called Bucha, which I think the Russian troops left on March 30, was back in Ukrainian hands for three days.

The mayor announced that they were back, that life in the city was going on as normal.

And only on the fourth day did they show pictures of dozens of bodies lying on the street, which days earlier was shown to be back to normal.” Reports that checked such statements with satellite imagery, however, came to different conclusions.

What the USA can do, we can do too – Russia's logic of war?

In the interview, Lavrov goes back to defending the war of aggression against Ukraine again.

They wanted to protect the Russians in Ukraine.

But finally a sentence escapes him that could possibly be the actual counter-argument: "The American military never had any scruples when [the USA] pursued their military goals, be it in Syria, be it in Iraq, be it in Afghanistan." And continued: “It is a tragedy when people die.

But we cannot tolerate a situation where our colleagues in the West say, 'We can do whatever we want!'”

Conversely, that would probably mean: If the USA is allowed to do everything, then we will also do everything we want!

Is that really the logic?

Eventually the speculation will continue until the war is finally over.

Until then, Russia will probably keep the West on the alert with vague statements to believe it is in an advantageous negotiating position.

(na)