Prospect of Putin starting nuclear war ‘very much alive’, Russian insider claims

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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is “prepared for nuclear war” with NATO amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a Russian professor has claimed.

Tensions around Russia’s use of nuclear weapons rose dramatically after Putin ordered the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on February 24.

The UK – as a member of NATO – has been unable to offer direct military support to the country amid fears it could spark World War 3.

And now, a Russian professor has claimed that his country remains prepared for the prospect of using nuclear weapons against the West.

Sergei Markov, Director of the Institute of Political Studies in Moscow, was speaking to Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow, on his documentary What Happens if Putin Goes Nuclear? when he made the shocking declaration.

“It’s absolutely clear that Vladimir Putin has not planned to use nuclear weapons against [the] Ukrainian army,” Sergei began.

“But he probably can use nuclear weapons against NATO because we can see some step up in the involvement of NATO to the war in Ukraine.”

However, rather than suggesting that any use of nuclear missiles would advance the conflict to a globalised scale, the academic claimed that the Russian despot wanted to put an end to the violence.

“Vladimir Putin, by pointing to Russian nuclear potential, wants to stop the escalation of the war in Ukraine which he saw in NATO behaviour,” he continued.

“Vladimir Putin knows very well that to stop [NATO] using nuclear weaponry against Russia, he should show that Russia prepares to use nuclear weapons in response.”

Snow – who reported during the nuclear stand-off of the Cold War – was left shocked, asking: “So the possibility of nuclear war is very much alive according to you?”

“Yes, I think it’s increased dramatically,” Sergei responded. “And the main reason for this is the irrational behaviour of the leaders of the United States of America and Great Britain.”

Despite these threats, there has been hope that peace will return to the region without the need for nuclear bombs to be dropped after reports emerged that Putin has agreed to face-to-face talks with President Zelenskyy.

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• Channel 4
• Vladimir Putin
• Military
• Missiles
• Russia

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