The latest statements from the Kremlin on the nuclear bomb once again displease Washington. The United States thus described as “irresponsible” the “lightly” remarks of Vladimir Putin, who on Wednesday relativized the risk of recourse to nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.
The Russian president had previously floated the possibility of using so-called “tactical” nuclear weapons. During a meeting in the Kremlin on Wednesday Vladimir Putin declared: “The threat of a nuclear war is growing”, but remained evasive on the Russian position.
The commitments of the nuclear powers
“Russia would not use them first under any circumstances”, he asserted, before adding: “It will not be the second to use them either, because the chances of using them in the event of a nuclear strike against our territory are very thin”.
Refusing to respond directly to Vladimir Putin, US State Department spokesman Ned Price recalled that nuclear powers around the world since the Cold War, including China, the United States, and Russia itself have been clear that “a nuclear conflict must never occur and can never be won”. “We believe that any other rhetoric, whether nuclear threats or even the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons, is irresponsible,” he insisted.
During his remarks, Vladimir Putin placed Russia in contrast with the United States, pointing the finger at the stationing of nuclear weapons by Washington with European allies of NATO. “We have not transferred and do not transfer our nuclear weapons to anyone, but of course we will protect our allies with all the means at our disposal, if necessary,” he stressed.
The weight of the Chinese position
In an interview published on Thursday, Olaf Scholz judges for his part that the risk of a recourse to nuclear weapons by Moscow has diminished because the international community, including China, “has drawn a red line” to Russia. “One thing has changed for now: Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons,” German Chancellor tells German media group Funk and to West France.
The German leader believes that his recent trip to China has paid off: “During my visit to Beijing, Chinese President Xi and I jointly declared that nuclear weapons should not be used. Shortly after, the G20 countries reaffirmed this position”.
Asked moreover about the recent controversy triggered by Emmanuel Macron, who considered that it would be necessary to give “guarantees” to Russia to find a good balance, once the war is over, Olaf Scholz acknowledged that in the long term the question of security architecture would arise. Nevertheless, “the priority is for Russia to immediately end the war and withdraw its troops. »