NATO chief sends stern message to Putin over nuclear threats
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin that a nuclear war can never be won, according to Reuters.
Rutte noted that the success of the alliance’s annual nuclear exercises, which took place earlier this month, gave him "absolute confidence in the credibility of NATO's nuclear deterrence" in the face of Russian threats.
He emphasized that when Russia uses dangerous and reckless nuclear rhetoric, the citizens of NATO countries should know there is no need to panic, as the alliance possesses a powerful nuclear deterrent capability.
"And (Russian President Vladimir) Putin must know that nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought," he stressed.
It is worth noting that Putin has repeatedly warned the West about potential nuclear consequences since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last month, he stated that Russia could use nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional missiles, and that Moscow would regard any strike against it, supported by a nuclear-armed state, as a joint attack.
Putin’s nuclear threats
Recently, US President Donald Trump announced that his country would resume nuclear weapons testing, claiming that other states are already doing it.
Trump made this statement after the Russian leader began boasting about new weapons capable of carrying nuclear payloads.
First, Putin announced the successful testing of the Burevestnik missile, followed by the Poseidon underwater drone. Notably, both Burevestnik and Poseidon are allegedly equipped with nuclear propulsion systems.
Amid these developments, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov claimed that during military exercises, the United States was allegedly practicing missile-nuclear strikes against Russia.
He also proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that preparations for full-scale nuclear exercises should begin immediately.
In response, Putin ordered his subordinates to explore this idea. He also added that if the United States or other nuclear-armed countries resumed nuclear testing, Russia “would have to respond appropriately.”
Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov began making excuses, claiming that Putin allegedly did not order preparations for nuclear tests.
