JAKARTA - One of President Vladimir Putin's allies explicitly lifted the scourge of nuclear attacks in Ukraine, saying the US-led military alliance would remain out of conflict, fear of a nuclear apocalypse.
The former Russian president who now sits as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said Russia has the right to defend itself with nuclear weapons, if pushed beyond the line, reminded it is not a approaches.
"Let's imagine that Russia is forced to use the most frightening weapons against the Ukrainian regime that has carried out large-scale acts of aggression, which are dangerous to the existence of our country," Medvedev said in a post on Telegram.
According to Russia's nuclear doctrine, the president could use nuclear weapons if the country faced an existenceal threat, including from conventional weapons.
"I believe NATO will not directly interfere in the conflict even in this scenario," Medvedev said.
"Demagogs (drivers) across the oceans and in Europe will not die in the nuclear apocalypse," he continued.
It is known that about 90 percent of the world's nuclear warheads are held by Russia and the United States, which are so far still the largest nuclear power in the world.
"I have to remind you again, for deaf ears who only hear themselves, Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary," Medvedev added, adding that it would be "in a predetermined case" and in accordance with state policy.
Medvedev's comments come as Moscow prepares to annex most of Ukraine, after a referendum in Russia-controlled territory in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine and the West denounced the vote, calling it fake and illegal.
Last week, President Putin ordered Russia's first mobilization since World War Two, supporting plans to annex most of Ukraine, warning the West it would not bully, when it said it was ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia.
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