An expert has warned of Vladimir Putin’s possible plan to “threaten world peace” as new information on his arsenal of weapons comes to light.
Amid escalating tensions in Ukraine, Dr. Scott Jasper, a senior Lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, has raised alarms about Putin’s ominous warnings regarding the use of nuclear weapons.
In a recent speech to the Russian parliament, Putin underscored “the real threat of a nuclear conflict,” seemingly in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks suggesting the deployment of Western ground troops in Ukraine.
Putin’s recurrent messaging to the West, including his September 2022 declaration of readiness to employ nuclear arms in Ukraine, has intensified concerns.
Dr. Jasper said: “Putin has repeatedly conveyed this threatening message to the West, for instance warning in September 2022 that Russia was prepared to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, saying Russia would use ‘all available means to protect Russia and our people’.”
READ MORE: Britain pledges another £125m to supply Ukraine with drones to smash Putin
The disclosure of 29 classified Russian military documents further highlights a shift towards a lowered threshold for the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
While these criteria may have initially been intended for training scenarios, their revelation underscores the gravity of the situation.
US Senator Jack Reed emphasized Russia’s reckless behavior concerning its nuclear weapons strategy during congressional testimony on March 1.
Putin’s assertion in his parliamentary address that Russia would stop at “absolutely everything” to advance its military operation in Ukraine exacerbates these fears, with significant implications for US national security.
Putin’s emphasis on Russia’s strategic nuclear capabilities, including the Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile and the Avangard hypersonic system, raises concerns about their potential to circumvent modern missile defense systems.
DON’T MISS:
Notably, Russia completed shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, positioning them near Kyiv, in October. Dr. Jasper said: “While Putin claimed the move was about containment, any decision to use these strategic or tactical weapons could threaten world peace.”
Despite assurances from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that there are no indications of imminent nuclear weapon use by Russia, “the threat to US national security cannot be discarded,” according to Dr. Jasper.
Putin’s acknowledgment last June at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that the use of nuclear weapons is “theoretically possible” underscores the severity of the threat.
Following the recent leak, Putin’s spokesperson sought to clarify Russia’s stance on nuclear weapons – they reserve the right to use them when the state’s existence is threatened or when conventional forces prove insufficient.
Dr. Jasper said: “The recent rhetoric and revelations appear in line with this doctrine and not an escalation.”
