Putin adviser demands: Moscow’s preemptive nuclear strike must save humanity from destruction

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It is now very clear how Russian war president Vladimir Putin (70) thinks about nuclear arms control. At an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin confirmed the deployment of the first nuclear weapons in Belarus. He boasted about Russia’s nuclear arsenal: “We have more such weapons than NATO countries. They know that and are constantly urging us to start disarmament talks,” the Kremlin boss continued, adding: “Fuck it, you know what we say among the people.”

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov (55) then felt compelled to put Putin’s statement to journalists into perspective: “Russia is ready to enter into negotiations,” Peskov assured. This is at a time when a new debate about the use of nuclear weapons is heating up in the country. In an open letter, Sergei Karaganov (70), adviser to Putin and before that to ex-president Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007), calls for a nuclear attack by Moscow.

Pre-emptive strike against Poland

The honorary chairman of the influential Russian Council for Foreign and Defense Policy speaks of a “difficult but necessary decision. The use of nuclear weapons can save humanity from global catastrophe,” Karaganov’s estimate reads. Russia must demonstrate its willingness to launch a “nuclear preemptive strike” on the territory of any of the Western European countries that support Kiev’s leadership.

Specifically, Karaganov seems to be addressing Poland. And if such an escalation does not force European leaders to think, it would be necessary to take action against a “group of countries”.

The letter, which appeared Tuesday in Russia in World Politics, also divided Russia. Prominent voices reacted with dismay, while others were less critical.

“Otherwise humanity is doomed”

“In my opinion, our country and its leadership,” begins Karaganov, “are faced with a difficult decision. It is becoming increasingly clear that our conflict with the West will not end even if we achieve a partial victory, let alone a crushing victory in Ukraine.”

Then there are the passages that also make Russia shake its head: it has spent years studying the history of nuclear deterrence. The relative peace of the last three-quarters of a century has been based on the fear of nuclear weapons. But that fear is gone now. The fear of nuclear escalation must be rectified. Otherwise, humanity is doomed.”

“The fear of nuclear escalation must be overcome,” writes Karaganov. “Otherwise humanity is doomed.” His conclusion: Such a harsh but necessary decision would likely force the West to retreat, allow for an earlier end to the Ukraine crisis and prevent the crisis from spreading to other countries.

Criticism of escalation strategy

In response, Ilya Fabrichnikov, also a member of the Foreign and Defense Policy Council, countered that Russia should not fall for the NATO bait. “One should not think of turning Poland into a nuclear wasteland,” Fabrichnikov said. Nuclear deterrence would suffice. If Polish soldiers come into open contact with Russian troops, or if Polish troops occupy territories in western Ukraine or try to invade Kaliningrad or carry out military actions against Belarus: “Then the national doctrine of nuclear deterrence must be put into effect. ” In this case, “no one will think twice about it because it’s clearly defined.”

One should not be entrapped by the West, concludes the Russian foreign policy expert: “We must not deny our foreign ‘partners’ the privilege of making all the mistakes they want us to make.”

Putin: “Use of extreme means possible”

When asked in St. Petersburg on Friday whether Putin was thinking about using nuclear weapons, Putin said: “Everyone is waiting for us to start pushing buttons,” Komsomolskaya Pravda quoted him as saying. “But you don’t have to, the enemy at the front is not successful. And when we realize that success is unlikely, we provoke ourselves hoping to point the finger and say, ‘Look how cruel they are.'”

Then Putin’s blunt language: “We are constantly being persuaded to start nuclear disarmament negotiations. Fuck it all.” But if Russia as a state is under threat, as he has repeatedly said, “extreme means can be used.” (kes)

Source: Blick