President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday that Russia could use all available means to defend itself, including nuclear weaponsif its sovereignty or territorial integrity were threatened, but denied plans to attack NATO. Furthermore, he described “annihilation” of Israel’s military response in Gaza.
Putin said the West had repeatedly accused Russia of nuclear saber rattling, but said this was wrong, and noted that it was the United States that used nuclear weapons against Japan in World War II.
Putin, speaking to the editors-in-chief of international news agencies in St. Petersburg, stated that Russian nuclear doctrine allows the use of this type of weapons in response to a series of threats. “For some reason, the West believes that Russia will never use them,” Putin said.
“We have a nuclear doctrine, look what it says. If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integritywe consider that we can use all the means at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly, superficially“he highlighted.
Vladimir Putin denied attack plans against NATO and spoke of “annihilation” in Gaza
More than two years after the start of the offensive against Ukraine, Putin assured that Moscow has no “imperial ambitions” and does not plan to attack NATO.
“Do not look for what does not exist (…) do not look for our imperial ambitions. They do not exist,” Putin declared during a meeting with foreign media. The president also described as “nonsense” the accusations that Moscow intends to attack the member countries of the Atlantic Alliance.
However, threatened to deliver weapons to countries in conflict with Western powersafter the United States and several European countries authorized Ukraine to use, under certain conditions, the weapons they gave it to attack Russian territory.
“If someone thinks that it is possible to supply these weapons to a war zone to attack our territory (…) why don’t we have the right to send weapons of the same type” to other countries, he asked
In another passage of the press conference, the Russian president condemned this Wednesday the “annihilation” of the civilian population of Gazawhen referring to the offensive launched almost nine months ago by Israel against Hamas in that Palestinian territory in retaliation for a lethal incursion by Islamist commandos.
“What is currently happening in Loop in response to the terrorist attack against Israel is nothing like a war. It is a kind of total annihilation of the civilian population“, declared the Russian president in a press conference in Saint Petersburg with foreign media.
Source: Ambito
