Russia Threatens Nuclear Response as UK and US Consider Allowing Ukraine to Use Long-Range Missiles

Russia Threatens Nuclear Response as UK and US Consider Allowing Ukraine to Use Long-Range Missiles

As the UK and US reportedly deliberate on allowing Ukraine to deploy their long-range missiles within Russian territory, Kremlin officials have ramped up threats of a nuclear response. Russian President Vladimir Putin faces mounting pressure from hardliners, including Kremlin MP Andrei Kolesnik, to conduct a nuclear test as a warning to the West.

Kolesnik, who has ties to Russia’s military, called for the resumption of nuclear tests, despite the country’s existing moratorium. “We need to carry out a nuclear explosion somewhere, at some testing ground,” he urged, arguing that such a move would make the world reconsider the consequences of escalating the conflict.

Putin, who has previously refrained from carrying out nuclear threats, warned this week that if Ukraine were to use Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russian soil, it could push NATO into direct conflict with Russia. “This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict,” Putin said, suggesting it would effectively place NATO countries at war with Russia.

While the US and UK have not yet altered their stance on missile deployment, concerns are growing over Russia’s potential retaliation. Some Kremlin hardliners are also advocating for possible strikes on NATO countries, which could trigger NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, escalating the conflict further.

Putin’s nuclear policy, introduced in 2020, allows for the use of nuclear weapons in response to a conventional strike threatening Russia’s critical infrastructure or in retaliation for a nuclear attack. As of July 2024, Russia is estimated to possess 5,580 nuclear warheads, while the US has approximately 5,748, according to the Arms Control Association.