A prominent Russian opposition politician, Grigory Yavlinsky, has warned about the potential use of Russia’s nuclear capabilities against Ukraine, emphasizing that President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threat is not merely a matter of rhetoric.
Yavlinsky has been criticizing Putin’s regime for a long time now. He now stated that the threat is a serious factor that cannot be ignored in the current situation. He made these remarks in response to the possibility of Ukraine attempting to recapture Crimea, saying, “That kind of weapon is such a serious thing…this is not [just] words, this is a real factor, which you have to take into consideration in the current situation. That’s it.”
Besides, Putin has also mentioned several times that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He cited the need to consider the nuclear capabilities of the United States and its NATO allies, who he claims have declared their main goal to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Putin further stated that the West’s ultimate objective is to disband the former Soviet Union, of which the Russian Federation is a fundamental part. The warning by Yavlinsky underscores the gravity of the situation in Ukraine, where tensions have been escalating for years. However, the chances of a nuclear conflict can concern the international community.