LONDON, Sept 12 (Askume) – Russian President Vladimir Putin is under pressure to take a more assertive nuclear stance toward Ukraine and Russia should make clear its willingness to “support NATO aggression” if Ukraine uses nuclear weapons, an influential Ukrainian foreign policy expert said. West.
Sergei Karaganov said in an interview with Kommersant that Moscow could launch a limited nuclear strike on any NATO country without starting a full-scale nuclear war.
He said the United States was lying when it said it had ensured the nuclear security of its allies.
Karaganov said the main goal of Russia’s nuclear doctrine should be “to ensure that all present and future enemies are confident that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons.”
In comments made a few weeks after Ukraine seized part of the Kursk region from Russia, he said:
“It is time that we declare our right to respond with nuclear strikes to any major attack on our territory. This also applies to any occupation of our territory.”
Western security experts are paying close attention to Karaganov’s statements because they believe they reflect Russian thinking on foreign, defense and nuclear policy.
His views do not represent official policy, but the Kremlin has given him numerous opportunities to express his views in influential forums and directly to President Vladimir Putin.
For more than a year, he has been the most prominent figure demanding changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which Moscow has now said it will revise.
Current doctrine states that Russia would be prepared to use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack by another country or a conventional attack that threatened the country’s existence.
However, Karaganov said the doctrine is irresponsible and even suicidal because it is not enough to deter Russia’s enemies and convince them that Moscow will not use nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
He said that unless Russia succeeds in changing this perception and reestablishing deterrence, Russia will be doomed.
After two-and-a-half years of war with Ukraine, it risks completely destroying itself on the battlefield and destroying itself economically, which could lead to “collapse or even collapse”.
powerful voice
Karaganov has in the past called on Russia to consider a pre-emptive nuclear strike to appease its enemies.
Since the war in Ukraine began, Putin has made several statements that are considered a nuclear threat by the West. But he has also said that Russia could win a war without resorting to nuclear weapons .
Some Western analysts say Karaganov plays a useful role for the Kremlin because he expresses views that raise concerns in the West while making Putin appear calm and moderate by comparison.
During the interview, Kommersant journalist Elena Chernenko asked Karaganov how he could be sure that the policies he advocated would not lead to an all-out nuclear war.
He said, “The idea that any limited use of nuclear weapons will inevitably lead to all-out nuclear war cannot withstand criticism.”
“I assure you that all nuclear nations have plans for the balanced use of nuclear weapons in certain circumstances.”
“I am not calling for a dangerous path, I am calling for saving the world and Russia. Either we will win this war or we will collapse,” Karaganov said.
“The West can fight endlessly, this war is in its favor, and I am in no way calling for nuclear war, I just hope things don’t get to that, but to stop it before it’s a terrible option.”
