Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the West on Wednesday, March 13, stating that Russia was technically prepared for nuclear war. He cautioned that any U.S. deployment of troops to Ukraine would be seen as a major escalation.
Speaking ahead of a March 15-17 election that is expected to extend his presidency for another six years, Putin emphasized that the nuclear war scenario was not imminent and that he saw no need for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
"We are, of course, ready from a military-technical standpoint," Putin, 71, told Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA, addressing whether Russia was truly prepared for nuclear conflict.
Putin stressed that the U.S. understood that any deployment of American troops on Russian or Ukrainian soil would be considered intervention by Russia. Despite this, he expressed confidence that a nuclear confrontation was not imminent.
While the U.S. has stated that it has not observed significant changes in Russia's nuclear posture, Putin's recent public warnings about nuclear capabilities have raised concerns in Washington.
Putin's warnings are part of an effort to dissuade greater U.S. involvement in Ukraine, which the Kremlin has warned could lead to world war. The conflict in Ukraine, which began in February 2022 when Putin sent soldiers into the country, has escalated into a full-scale war.
Amid these warnings, Putin has also extended an offer for talks on Ukraine. However, the U.S. has expressed skepticism about Putin's readiness for serious negotiations.
As the West grapples with how to support Ukraine against Russia, Putin reiterated that Russia was prepared for negotiations but emphasized the need for written security guarantees in any settlement.
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