Putin orders nuclear exercises after statements about sending Western troops to Ukraine – Current Affairs

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, in February 2022, Putin has mentioned the possibility of resorting to nuclear weapons.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced in a statement, published on Telegram, the organization of exercises “to train the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons”, which can be used on the battlefield and fired on missiles.

The Kremlin said the exercises were a response to statements by leaders of Western powers about the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine.

The exercises, ordered by Putin, will include the Air Force, the Navy and the Forces of the Southern Military District, which are based very close to Ukraine and cover the Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims to have annexed, according to the Ministry of Defense. The date and location of the exercises were not revealed.

Russian nuclear doctrine provides for the “strictly defensive” use of nuclear weapons in the event of an attack on the country with weapons of mass destruction or in the event of aggression with conventional weapons “that threaten the existence of the State”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov reported that authorities are talking about “the intention to send armed contingents to Ukraine, that is, to place NATO soldiers in front of the Russian Armed Forces.”

Peskov mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron, whose rhetoric he called “very dangerous”, as well as statements from high-ranking officials in the UK and US governments.

Last week, Macron reiterated his position on the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine, which he had already mentioned in February.

“If the Russians manage to break through the front lines, if there is a Ukrainian request – which is not the case today – we should legitimately raise the issue,” said the French president.