Main content

What should we make of Russia鈥檚 nuclear threats?

The US warns of 鈥渃atastrophic consequences鈥 if Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

The US has warned Russia of 鈥渃atastrophic consequences鈥 if it uses nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine. The statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted he鈥檇 use 鈥渁ll the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people鈥, adding this is 鈥渘ot a bluff鈥. The threat of escalation feels more acute after Moscow reported four self-styled referendums held in Russian-held regions of Ukraine showed near universal public support for joining Russia. So, if Ukraine continues to try to wrest back full control of the regions, is it possible the Kremlin could respond with the use of small 鈥榯actical鈥 nuclear weapons?

Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of expert guests.
Producers: Paul Schuster and Ellen Otzen.

Available now

49 minutes

Last on

Sat 1 Oct 2022 14:06GMT

Contributors

Sylvie Bermann聽-聽France's Ambassador to Moscow (2017-2019) and to Beijing (2011-2014)


Thomas E. Graham -聽Russia expert with the Council on Foreign Relations and a former US diplomat


Jon Wolfsthal -
聽Former advisor to President Obama, now a senior policy advisor with Global Zero, the international movement for the abolition of nuclear weapons


Also featuring:


Pavel Baev -聽Research professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo and a nonresident senior fellow at The Brookings Institution

Image

Russian Yars ballistic nuclear missiles on mobile launchers roll through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade rehearsals on May 6, 2018 in Moscow, Russia - Credit: Mikhail Svetlov / Getty Images

Broadcasts

  • Fri 30 Sep 2022 09:06GMT
  • Fri 30 Sep 2022 23:06GMT
  • Sat 1 Oct 2022 03:06GMT
  • Sat 1 Oct 2022 14:06GMT

The Real Story Podcast

Subscribe via your favourite podcast app...

Podcast