Russia Says It Would Only Use Nuclear Weapons Against ‘Existential Threat'

Russia has confirmed it would only use nuclear weapons when faced with an 'existential threat'.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN Russian President Vladimir Putin would only command the activation of nuclear weapons if the country is under direct threat.

"We have a concept of domestic security, and it's public. You can read all the reasons for nuclear arms to be used," he said.

"So if it is an existential threat for our country, then it can be used in accordance with our concept."

Peskov also said that Putin's previous threats to use nuclear arms was merely to send a message to the rest of the world.

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"President Putin intends to make the world listen to and understand our concerns," he said.

"We've been trying to convey our concerns to the world - to Europe, to the United states - for a couple of decades but no one would listen to us."

As the invasion of Ukraine was getting underway, Putin ordered his nuclear forces to be on high alert.

He also threatened NATO allies with 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history' if they interfered with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On February 28, the Interfax news agency reported that Russia's troops had placed nuclear missile forces and Pacific fleets for enhanced combat duty.

Despite Peskov's comments, many leaders have also confirmed their fears of a nuclear war breaking out.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this month: 'The prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility."

Leader of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Beatrice Fihn also warned Putin is taunting other countries with the possibility of a nuclear war to prevent them from intervening in the Ukraine war.

"This is one of the scariest moments really when it comes to nuclear weapons," she said.

Though Russia claims to have destroyed its arsenal in 2017, the use of nerve agent Novichok during assassination attempts in 2018 and 2020 confirms the country still possesses chemical weapons, however the quantity remains unknown.

Additionally, during the Ukraine invasion, the Russian military has also targeted missiles at power plants, raising concerns of a nuclear natural disaster unfolding.

Following the attack on Zaporizhzhia Power Plant, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned that it could have been '10 times larger than Chernobyl' if the facility exploded.

He tweeted earlier this month: "Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out.

"If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!"