Putin: I see no reason to use nuclear weapons

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that nuclear weapons are not necessary for Moscow's victory in Ukraine, which is the strongest signal from the Kremlin to date that there will be no nuclear attack.

Putin, whose forces have been advancing in eastern Ukraine in recent months, said he sees no conditions for the use of such weapons and called for an end to discussions about it.

However, he added that he does not rule out changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which defines the conditions under which such weapons could be used.

He also stated that Russia could test nuclear weapons if necessary, although he sees no need to do so at this time.

Putin was responding to a question from influential Russian analyst Sergey Karaganov, who asked him if he had to keep a "nuclear gun to the head" of the West regarding Ukraine.

- The use (of nuclear weapons) is possible in exceptional circumstances - in the event of a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

I don't think that has happened. There is no need. But the doctrine is a living tool, and we are carefully monitoring what is happening in the world around us, so we do not rule out some changes to it. This also applies to nuclear weapons testing - Putin said at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.

Russia's nuclear doctrine, published in 2020, defines the conditions under which the Russian president can consider the use of nuclear weapons, namely in response to an attack with nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, or to the use of conventional weapons against Russia "when the very existence of the state is threatened".

Karaganov proposed last year a limited nuclear strike on a NATO member in Europe to force the West to withdraw from the conflict over Ukraine and prevent World War III.

Otherwise, threats of nuclear weapons exclusively come from Russia. In addition to politicians and high-ranking officials like former president Dmitry Medvedev, scenarios of nuclear attacks on London and other European cities are mentioned daily on state television in various programs.

U.S. President Joe Biden last week eased some restrictions on Ukraine's use of American weapons to attack targets in Russia, to which Moscow warned of a potentially dangerous escalation of the conflict.

Putin said on Wednesday that he could deploy conventional missiles to locations from which he could attack the U.S. and its European allies if they allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory with long-range Western weapons.

He added that the West is mistaken if it thinks Russia would never use nuclear weapons.