"From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," Mr. Putin told Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA in response to a question on whether the country was ready for a nuclear war. He said the United States understands that if it deploys American troops on Russian territory — or to Ukraine — Russia would treat the move as an intervention. Kremlin's nuclear doctrineMr. Putin reiterated that the use of nuclear weapons was spelt out in the Kremlin's nuclear doctrine, its policy setting out the circumstances in which Russia might use its weapons. If the United States conducted nuclear tests, Russia might do the same, he added in the wide-ranging interview. However, Mr. Putin said Russia had never faced a need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, where the conflict has raged since February 2022.

Source: The Hindu March 14, 2024 02:55 UTC