After Putin's statements on the new military doctrine and preventive strike: Kremlin spokesman Peskov rowed back
Created: 2022-12-14 04:56
By: Andreas Schmid
Russian threatening gesture: the use of nuclear weapons.
© Russian Defense Ministry/afp/Bruckmann/Litzka (montage)
Russia is once again talking about the use of nuclear weapons.
After explosive statements by Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Peskov is now in touch.
December 12 update
: According to its own statements, Russia does not intend to rapidly change its nuclear doctrine on the use of weapons of mass destruction.
"There is no talk of any quick action in this regard," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, according to the Interfax agency.
In the past week, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia's doctrine calls for the use of nuclear weapons in response to such an attack.
At the same time, he pointed out that according to their doctrine, the US could carry out first strikes.
He made it clear that against this background Russia had to think about its own security (see first report).
Putin's spokesman Peskov now explained that there is a constant process of reflection and analysis at expert level on the situation in the world.
According to Russia's 2020 nuclear doctrine, the use of nuclear weapons is only possible if the adversary first uses these or other weapons of mass destruction against Russia or its allies.
The use of nuclear weapons is therefore also possible if Russia's existence is threatened by conventional weapons.
Putin: Russia could include pre-emptive strikes in its military doctrine
First report from December 10th
: Moscow/Bishkek – Russia's political apparatus is considered to be well versed in rhetoric.
The Kremlin knows the power and impact of words, especially in uncertain times.
And so, since the beginning of the war, hints of the use of nuclear weapons have repeatedly been heard from Russia;
usually somewhat veiled: one will "defend oneself
with all means
".
The use of nuclear weapons was not explicitly mentioned for a long time, but the message was still understood.
Now, however, Russia is tightening the tone.
On December 7, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin said Russia would use nuclear weapons in response to an attack.
"We regard weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons, as a means of defense." That sounded concrete and could now also be reflected in security and defense policy.
According to its president, Russia is considering including the possibility of pre-emptive strikes against other countries in its military doctrine.
Such an attack could be possible to disarm another state, Putin said on Friday in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek - apparently with a view to a possible use of nuclear weapons.
Vladimir Putin on Friday at the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.
© IMAGO/Pavel Bednyakov
Washington as a role model: “adopt US ideas to guarantee its own security”?
Asked by a journalist for a more detailed explanation of these statements, Putin said: "The United States has the concept of a pre-emptive strike." Perhaps Moscow should adopt the US ideas "in order to guarantee its own security."
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Under US President George W. Bush, the United States implemented a preemptive strategy in response to the September 11 attacks.
This is to prevent enemy attacks.
For example, the USA justified the attack on Iraq in the Third Gulf War with “defending against an imminent danger”.
The concept is controversial.
The modern international law of war actually allows only defensive wars.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin added: "We're just thinking about it at the moment."
(as)