Russia is expanding its nuclear arsenal in the Ukraine war – the United States warns
Created: 12/10/2022 5:31 p.m
By: Caroline Schäfer
The Kremlin has repeatedly fueled fears of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine war.
Now Russia apparently wants to expand its arsenal.
Moscow – The Kremlin has repeatedly made nuclear threats in the Ukraine war.
The tensions surrounding Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhia in Ukraine, are also exacerbating the situation.
According to the United States, Russia now wants to expand its nuclear arsenal.
This is reported by fr.de.
Vladimir Putin wants to expand and modernize his arsenal, the
Reuters
news agency quoted US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as saying.
The whole world has seen "that Putin is engaged in deeply irresponsible nuclear saber-rattling," Austin said on Friday (December 9).
Russia plans to expand the infrastructure of its nuclear forces in 2023.
News about the Ukraine war: Russia wants to increase its nuclear weapons arsenal
In a televised speech in September, the Kremlin chief indicated that Russia would "use all available means" to protect the country.
"Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tide can also turn in their direction," Putin said at the time.
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With the planned expansion, Russia would increase its already huge nuclear arsenal even further.
According to estimates by the non-profit organization Federation of American Scientists, Russia already has the largest arsenal in the world.
According to experts, the Federation has almost 6,000 nuclear warheads.
News on the Ukraine war: "Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons"
It is unclear whether Putin will actually carry out his nuclear threats.
According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the danger of a nuclear war has decreased.
“Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons.
In response to the international community marking a red line," the chancellor told
Funke Mediengruppe
newspapers .
A Topol ICBM that can be equipped with nuclear warheads is presented at an armaments fair.
The Ukraine war has sparked fears of nuclear war.
(Archive image) © YNA/dpa
The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) came to the same conclusion.
The institute believes that the "Kremlin's threats were aimed at urging Ukraine into negotiations and reducing Western support for Kiev," according to a report.
However, the rhetorical change of course addressed by Olaf Scholz showed that Russia's tactics did not work.
The Kremlin had become aware that the threats would bring only "small operational profit".
(cheese)