One of Vladimir Putin's most senior advisors has warned that millions of innocent people could die if the Russian president pushes his nuclear button. Sergei Karaganov, 74, an Honorary Chairman of the Praesidium of Russia's Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, issued the warning after weeks of increasing tensions.
Karaganov said Russia would go nuclear if the West sends troops into Ukraine or touches the Kremlin's Baltic Sea outpost, Kaliningrad. 'I hope it does not come to that, but Russia would be forced to launch a nuclear strike if NATO countries deployed troops to Ukrainian territory or if there were a direct threat to Russian territory,' he said.
Nuclear war in Europe 'easily won'
He smiled and added: 'It is absolutely clear that such a war would be nuclear. I do not want that, and I am actively working to prevent such a scenario.'
He went on to say that a 'nuclear war in Europe would be easily won', but inflict 'terrible moral damage' on Russia. 'Millions of innocent people would perish,' he said, referencing NATO nations.
The interviewer told Karaganov that he had earlier suggested a 'preemptive nuclear strike', to which the professor replied: 'It's not too late.'
Russia's nuclear rhetoric
'I hope things won't come to that, but I am very pleased that both the Russian President and the Foreign Minister have started saying that if a war were to break out, it would be very short,' he said.
Yesterday, NATO responded to Russia's outright threat to deploy nuclear weapons if Kaliningrad is 'threatened' by the alliance. 'We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,' NATO wrote.
'We have sent a response, noting that NATO is a defensive Alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia. We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.'
Russia has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons if NATO and other European countries continue to 'threaten' its territory.
