After nuclear announcement

West reacts cautiously to Putin’s threat

Russia is "ready", says Vladimir Putin.(Bild: Sputnik)

Vladimir Putin has held out the prospect of using nuclear weapons in an interview. Russia is ready to do so at any time if necessary. The UN nuclear watchdog and the White House are now trying to put things into perspective - and to ease the situation.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA, Rafael Grossi, does not currently expect nuclear weapons to be used, despite threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't think we see conditions for the use of nuclear weapons at the moment, if we refer to the war in Ukraine," Grossi told the press in Tokyo. Grossi had met Putin in Russia last week.

White House gives the all-clear
According to a spokeswoman, the US government also has no indication that Russia intends to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. The White House has no evidence "that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine", spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told journalists on board the presidential aircraft Air Force One on Wednesday.

The background to the debate is the latest threats from the highest Russian authorities. Putin said in an interview this week that Russia was technically ready for a nuclear war if the existence of the Russian state was threatened. He does not believe that everything is heading towards a nuclear confrontation, Putin said, "but we are ready for it".

Putin reproaches the USA
The Russian ruler also accused the USA of planning to resume nuclear weapons tests. In such a case, Russia would also consider launching new nuclear weapons tests.

Russia is "ready", says Vladimir Putin.(Bild: Sputnik)

Russia's nuclear arsenal is one of the most modern in the world, Putin emphasized. According to him, the USA is currently in the process of renewing its nuclear forces.

Efforts are being made not only to sound out the possibilities of the new warheads on the computer, but also to check them in real tests. "We know about this. And we will also look," he said. He did not provide any evidence for his claims about the US plans.