Reactions to Putin's nuclear threat: Politicians call for more "deterrence" by Western countries
Created: 10/02/2022 11:49 am
By: Teresa Toth
Putin keeps alluding to the use of nuclear weapons.
In the West, this is seen as an attempt to unsettle.
It is all the more important to show strength.
Moscow – Putin again threatens to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war.
In a speech on Friday (October 1), the Russian President stressed that he would use "all available means" to defend Russian territory - which he says now includes four provinces of eastern Ukraine.
He described NATO as an enemy.
According to many Western politicians, the threats are primarily an attempt by Putin to spread fear.
CDU politician Kiesewetter therefore considers increased deterrence on the part of Western countries to be necessary.
"Certainly we have to take it seriously, and of course there is always such a risk," he told the Berliner
Tagesspiegel
.
"But we can prevent this by increasing our own deterrence and countering Putin with strength and unity."
Reactions to Putin's nuclear threat: Kiesewetter appeals to remain vigilant
Kiesewetter urgently warned against giving in to Vladimir Putin.
If Russia actually used nuclear weapons, the country would "completely isolate itself in the long run, including from its current partners or at least neutral states like China or India," said the CDU politician.
"That's why we mustn't let ourselves be fooled."
Putin renews his nuclear threat.
However, one should not allow oneself to be unsettled by this, say politicians from the EU and the USA.
© Gavriil Grigorov/dpa
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also emphasizes that the threats must still be taken seriously.
“You have to be very careful.
But it is also important not to be paralyzed by such threats,” Lambrecht warned during a visit to Moldova.
It is now a matter of "being vigilant, reacting very prudently and also making sure that there is no further escalation." It is important that the western states continue to support Ukraine consistently.
Reactions to Putin's nuclear threat: Biden calls for a united approach
In a video interview with the
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung
, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said that Ukraine would be "supported with undiminished strength".
When asked whether the Russian ruler could carry out his nuclear threats, the chancellor replied: "Who knows?
Like US President Joe Biden, however, I want to say quite clearly to Russia: Let it be!”
At the UN General Assembly in New York, Biden called on the United Nations to take united action against Putin.
Every member of the UN General Assembly must be firm and unshakable in their determination to defend international values.
"A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," warned the US President.
Reactions to nuclear threat: military benefit for Putin would be small
High-ranking American officials consider the fact that Putin will actually use a nuclear weapon to be minor.
As the
New York Times
reports, they say there is no evidence that the Russian president is shifting his nuclear assets.
In addition, a current Pentagon analysis suggests that the military benefit would be small.
And the consequences of an international response, perhaps even from China, whose support he needs most, could be "catastrophic," according to Jake Sullivan, President Biden's national security adviser.
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Nevertheless, there is a "risk" that the Kremlin boss could consider such an attack.
However, the US has been "unambiguous" to Russia about the consequences of using nuclear weapons, Sullivan said.
He also stressed that US forces in Europe are prepared for all possible scenarios.
He referred to US troop increases during the Ukraine war.
(tt)
