"You can use nuclear weapons in the event of a threat to the nation's existence"...International com

Tensions are rising in the international community as Russia, which is invading Ukraine, directly said, "We can use nuclear weapons in case of a threat to the existence of the country."

Asked in an interview with CNN on the 22nd (local time), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "Are you sure Russian President Vladimir Putin will not use nuclear weapons? We have revealed cases where we can use nuclear weapons for national security concepts. If the country faces an existential threat, it can use nuclear weapons.

This is the first time that Russian authorities have directly mentioned the terms of using nuclear weapons since the invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier, President Putin hinted at the possibility of using nuclear weapons when international sanctions began after the invasion of Ukraine. Last month, Putin ordered his country's nuclear weapons operations units to be on high alert, saying, "NATO (Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization) is making aggressive remarks to Russia."

The Kremlin spokesman's reference to the terms of the use of nuclear weapons was divided between major foreign media and experts.

CNN reported that "Russia did not rule out the use of nuclear weapons," while Reuters analyzed that "the Kremlin will use nuclear weapons only when Russia's existence is threatened."

Former acting director of the U.S. National Intelligence Service (DNI) David Gompert told the Wall Street Journal, "Russia's principles on nuclear war have become clear. Putin's position is that the criteria for the use of Russian nuclear weapons are "threats of national existence."

"Unlike previous concerns that NATO will spread to nuclear war if it intervenes in the Ukraine conflict, it is a message that Russia will not use nuclear weapons unless it attacks the Russian mainland," he said.

On the other hand, Matthew Harris, a senior researcher at the Royal Joint Military Research Institute (RUSI), a British defense and security think tank, said in Foreign Policy, "A strong threat can easily lead to a real disaster. President Putin's nuclear attack is at least somewhat credible."

The U.S. government also expressed concern. "Moscow's investigation into the use of nuclear weapons is dangerous. "This is not the behavior of a responsible nuclear power," he said. "The United States is monitoring Russia's movements every day. So far, we have not found any evidence for the U.S. to change its strategic deterrence strategy," he said.

According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Russia has 5,977 nuclear warheads, the largest number in the world, as of 2022.

Date: 2022-03-15

Reporter: 정새울