Putin Says Need to Use Tactical Nuclear Weapons Never Arose in Ukraine
03:23 GMT 13.03.2024 (Updated: 10:15 GMT 13.03.2024)
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - There has not yet been any need to use tactical nuclear weapons as part of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group.
"Why should we use weapons of mass destruction? There has never been such a need," Putin said.
Watch full video of the interview President Putin gave Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Rossiya Segodnya, on the link here.
When asked whether such an idea ever occurred to him, Putin replied, "No, but why?"
Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons if the existence of the Russian state is threatened, Putin said. Russia’s nuclear triad is more advanced than that of any other country, Putin also said.
"From the military and technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," Putin said.
The Russian president added that his US counterpart, Joe Biden, is part of a "traditional school of politics" and also that the US has many other experts in the Russia-US relationship and strategic deterrence.
"That is why I do not think that everything is rushing head-on [in that direction], but we are ready for this," Putin said.
Russian also noted the United States is developing nuclear forces, but it does not mean that they are ready to unleash a nuclear war tomorrow.
"They are now setting tasks of increasing their advancement, novelty, they have a corresponding plan. We know about it too. They are developing all their components. So are we. But this does not mean that, in my opinion, they are ready to unleash this nuclear war tomorrow. Well, they want to ... We are ready," Putin said.
Western Countries ‘Powerless’ Before Unity of Russian People
Countries in the so-called collective West found themselves powerless in the face of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and the unity of the Russian people, Putin added.
Some Western elites do not want such a tremendous country as Russia beside them and seek to divide it, Putin said. At the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Western countries were happy and believed they would be capable of ending Russia through sanctions, weapons and Ukrainian nationalists, Putin said.
“This is where that slogan came from – to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield. However, the realization later came that this was unlikely, and even later, that it was impossible," Putin said. “And the understanding came that instead of a strategic defeat, they were confronted with the powerlessness they faced. They were faced with powerlessness before the unity of the Russian people, before the fundamental foundations and stability of the Russian financial and economic system, and before the growing capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”
Russia Ready for Talks on Ukraine, But Not Discussions Shaped by Wishful Thinking
Russia is ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but they have to be based on realistic premises and not on wishful thinking, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated.
"Are we ready for talks? Yes, we are, but we are only ready for talks that are not based on some psychotropic drug-induced wishful thinking, but those that are based on the developed situation on the ground, as they say," Putin said.
President Putin further indicated that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should not serve as a temporary pause to allow Kiev to rearm itself, but should be a serious conversation to ensure Russia's security guarantees.
🗣 "I hate to say it, but I don't trust anyone. But we need guarantees," Putin said regarding the likelihood of Ukraine peace talks
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 13, 2024
"I hate to say it, but I don't trust anyone. But we need guarantees. And the guarantees must be spelled out, they must be guarantees that would… pic.twitter.com/wZvBFRoGo8
"We are, however, ready for a serious conversation, and we want to resolve all conflicts, and especially this conflict, by peaceful means. But we must clearly understand for ourselves that this is not a pause that the enemy wants to take for rearmament, but this is a serious conversation with security guarantees for Russia," Putin said.
Putin added that Russia knows the various options being discussed and knows the "carrots that are going to be shown" to convince them that the time for negotiations has come.
Russia wants to resolve the Ukraine crisis through peaceful means, Putin said.
Russia Has No Plans to Split West, They Will Do It Themselves
Russia has no intention to attempt to split the West, they will do it themselves, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted.
"We are not going to engage in any attempts to split the West; they will do that themselves with flying colors. But we will, of course, strive to ensure that our interests are respected," Putin said.
Putin, when commenting on the possibility of a "fair treaty" with the West, also added that he does not trust anyone, but Russia needs written guarantees.
"I do not want to say this, but I do not trust anyone. However, we need guarantees. And these guarantees should be in writing, they should be good enough for us, and they should be something that we would believe in. That is what I am talking about," Putin said in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group.
Putin added that currently it was premature to discuss this prospect.
"But we would certainly not fall for some empty promises," he said, elaborating that he preferred to rely on facts, not some "good intentions and talks that anyone can be trusted".
"We would never do anything that runs counter to the interests of our country," he added.
📹 Vladimir Putin said that Russia needs to increase the quantity and power of its destructive potential, but already now progress in this area is being made by leaps and bounds
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 13, 2024
"We must boost our destructive capabilities by increasing both the sheer quantity and potency of our… pic.twitter.com/m7aD6zRr1k
Presence of Foreign Troops in Ukraine Will Not Change Anything on Battlefield
The potential presence of foreign troops and the shipment of additional Western security assistance to Ukraine will not shape the course of the conflict on the battlefield, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated.
"The thing is, western military personnel have been present in Ukraine for a while, they were present even before the coup ... But if we are talking about foreign countries' official military contingents, then I am sure that it will not change the situation on the battlefield. This is the most important. The same as arms shipments do not change anything," Putin said in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group.
📹 Vladimir Putin said that the presence of foreign military contingents will not change the situation on the battlefield, but may lead to serious geopolitical consequences. He cited the example of Poland, which wants to regain Ukraine’s western territories, which it considers… pic.twitter.com/kdqDyPiNyB
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 13, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin also noted that if Poland sends troops into Ukraine, it will not leave, it wants to return the lands that it considers its own.
"Because if, let's say, Polish troops enter the Ukrainian territory to - as it is said - protect the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, for example, or in some other places in order to free up Ukrainian military contingents to participate in hostilities on the line of contact, then I think that Polish troops will never leave. Well, it seems so to me," Putin said.
The President explained that Poland would then want to return the lands that it considers historically its own.
"Because they will want to return... they are dreaming, they want to return those lands that they consider historically theirs, and which were taken away from them by the Father of Nations, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, and transferred to Ukraine. Of course, they want them back. And if official Polish units enter there, they are unlikely to leave," Putin added.
US, UK-Made Missiles Will Not Change Situation on Battlefield for Ukraine
US- and UK-made missiles transferred to Ukraine will not change the situation on the battlefield in the Russian military operation zone, Putin said.
"They use these UK, US missiles. It does not change the situation on the battlefield. Yes, they just cause us damage, certainly. It is obvious. But in fact, this does not change the course of the combat and the consequences that inevitably come for the opponent," Putin said, commenting on a recent leak of a conversation between four high-ranking German military officers who discussed possible supply of long-range Taurus missiles, suited to attack the Crimean Bridge, to Kiev.
Russian Armed Forces Have Fully Taken Initiative on Contact Line
The Russian armed forces have fully taken the initiative on the contact line in the special military operation zone, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"The initiative [on the contact line] has completely passed to our armed forces. Everyone knows this, everyone admits it," Putin said.
If Russia abandons its people in Donbass today, then the losses will increase many times over tomorrow and Russian children will have no future, the president said.
"It is necessary to increase ... the number and power of weapons, increase the effectiveness of the forces and means used," Putin said when asked how to minimize Russia's losses so that during the offensive they would be less than in defense.
No one will take Russia into account if it does not protect itself, and the consequences could be catastrophic, the leader added.
Ukraine's Attempts to Attack Belgorod, Kursk Regions Come Amid Battlefield Failures
The attempts by Ukraine to attack Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions are taking place amid its failures on the front lines, Putin said.
"There is a very simple explanation. All of this is taking place amid [Ukrainian] failures at the line of contact, the front line. They have achieved none of the goals that they set last year," the president said.
Putin suggested that the attacks were aimed at interfering with, if not thwarting, the upcoming Russian presidential election.
"On the state border line the enemy tried to attack with sabotage groups first and foremost - here is the latest report by the general staff - about 300 people, including participating foreign mercenaries," Putin said.
Russia Will Not Allow Anyone to Interfere in Its Internal Political Processes
Russia will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal political processes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We have said it many times, and I have said it many times, we will not let anyone do this," Putin said.
Putin also called US President Joe Biden’s attempt in 2011 to dissuade him from participating in the elections as interference.
"Well, that is the sign of interference," he said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also said that Russia will decisively suppress any attempts to interfere in internal affairs and subversive activity from abroad on the eve of the presidential elections in the country.
Russians will go to the polls from March 15-17 to elect a new president. In addition to incumbent President Vladimir Putin, the candidates include lower house international affairs committee chair Leonid Slutsky, lower house Far East and Arctic development committee chair Nikolai Kharitonov, and lower house Deputy Speaker Vladislav Davankov.
By Refusing Rapprochement With Russia, Finland Has Not Improved Its Security
By refusing rapprochement with Russia and deciding to join NATO, Finland has not improved the situation in terms of its security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"You know, this is a domestic matter, but nevertheless, in recent years, both in Helsinki and certainly in the border areas of Finland, Russian rubles were accepted, including in Helsinki, in large supermarkets. You could buy whatever you wanted for rubles. All the announcements everywhere were in Russian," the president said.
According to Putin, this was good from the point of view of the economy, real estate prices were kept at a fairly good level.
"Some even thought it was excessive. ‘Why are Russians buying houses here, buying apartments, everything here is in Russian?’ At the domestic level, I don't even think… I know, at the domestic level, such Russophobia began to grow. Maybe some political forces in the country decided to take advantage of this kind of domestic bias. Perhaps," Putin noted.
"The totality of these factors led to this decision [to join NATO]. That's how it seems to me, but I can't say 100%. In any case, it definitely does not improve the security situation in any way. Neither in bilateral relations nor in Europe as a whole," the president concluded.
Finland and Sweden applied to join the alliance in May 2022 against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict. Finland became NATO's 31st member on April 4, 2023.
Easier to Deal With Those ‘Snorting Cocaine’, Clever People Dangerous
It’s easier to come to terms with those that are "snorting cocaine" than with clever and dangerous people, Putin said.
"Those who are a bit cleverer started to think that something should be changed in terms of a strategy towards Russia. That’s when all the ideas appeared to revive negotiations, to find some ways to end this conflict, to find out where Russia’s real national interests lie. These are dangerous people, by the way," Putin said.
Putin pointed out that it was easier to deal with people guided by their bad habits.
"Do you remember an old Russian saying? What was happiness for the man in the street? 'Full, drunk and snuffing tobacco' It’s easy to deal with people like that," Putin said.
"Nowadays they are snorting cocaine, right? Doesn’t really matter but it’s easier to deal with these people. Clever people are more difficult to handle. They are dangerous because they influence the public’s mind, including ours. They will toss all kinds of wants and wishes and make them look like carrot sticks for us," Putin said.
Moscow has repeatedly said that it was ready for negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine but Kiev officially banned any such talks. The West meanwhile has been turning a blind eye to Kiev’s constant refusals to engage in dialogue.
German Officers Fantasize by Threatening to Hit Crimean Bridge
The speculation of German officers about possible strikes on the Crimean Bridge is meant to scare Russia, but it is nothing more than fantasy, Vladimir Putin said.
"They are fantasizing, encouraging themselves, first of all. Secondly, they are trying to intimidate us. As for the Federal Republic of Germany, there are constitutional problems there. They correctly say: if these Taurus hit that part of the Crimean Bridge, which, of course, even according to their concepts, is Russian territory, this is a violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany," the president said.
States Without Red Lines Toward Russia Should Know Russia Will Have None Either
Countries saying that they do not have red lines when it comes to Russia should understand that Russia will not have such lines either, Putin said.
"As for the states that talk about having no red lines with regards to Russia, they should then understand that Russia also will not have any red lines towards those states," Putin said.
Russia Not Inciting Anyone in Africa, Not Setting Anyone Against France
Russia does not incite African countries and does not set them against France, Moscow has no such tasks, Vladimir Putin has said. He said that French President Emmanuel Macron's sharp reaction to Moscow may be related to actions in Africa.
"Yes, I think there is some kind of resentment. But when we maintained direct contact with him, we spoke quite openly on this topic. We did not go into Africa and did not squeeze France out of there," Putin said.
Putin said that in many countries where France has historically been a metropolis, they do not really want to deal with Paris, although there are other African countries where they are calm about the French presence.
"But we have nothing to do with it, we are not inciting anyone there, we are not setting anyone up against France. We do not have such tasks. To be honest, we do not have such state, national tasks there at the level of the Russian state. We are just friends with them - that's all. They want to develop relations with us. Well, for God’s sake, we are willing to do that. There's nothing to be offended about," Putin said.
Putin went on to say that Russia did not thrust itself into Africa and did not squeeze France out of there; African leaders themselves wanted to work with the Russian Federation.
"We did not push anyone out. It is just that the African leaders of some countries agreed with Russian economic operators and wanted to work with them but did not want to work with the French in some way. It was not our initiative, it was the initiative of our African friends. But it is unclear why they should be offended at us in this regard," he said.
Putin noted that an independent state wants to develop relations with its partners from other countries, including the Russian Federation.
"We did not touch them, the former French colonialists in these countries. Well, yes, I even say this without irony because in many countries where France has historically been a metropolis, they do not really want to deal with them," he said. "We have nothing to do with it. So, it is probably more convenient to be offended by someone without seeing your own problems." The President suggested that "such an acute reaction, quite emotional on the part of the French president, is also related to what is happening in some African states."
No Need for Special Body to Protect Russia From Sanctions
There is no need to set up a special body to protect Russia from sanctions introduced by the West, as the existing bodies — the government, the Central Bank and the Security Council — analyze everything they do, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in an interview to Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group.
"There is simply no need. We analyze, the government, the Central Bank, the Security Council, we analyze everything that our enemies do. Much is done not even for political or military reasons, although this is argued, but it is done simply for reasons of competition," Putin said.
Russia's Economy Can Move Japan From 4th Place, But Needs Changes
Russia's economy can overtake Japan in terms of purchasing power parity in the coming years, but the country has a lot to do to change the structure of its economy and needs to work on its efficiency and innovation, Vladimir Putin said.
Putin on the prospects of the Russian economy: Russia has every chance to take Japan's place
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 13, 2024
"And we still have a lot to do to ensure that not only in terms of purchasing power parity, but also per capita, we have a decent position. That’s first. And second is that the structure… pic.twitter.com/yqnnHVrWnX
"We still need to do a lot so that we have a decent position not only in purchasing power parity, but also per capita. This is at first. And secondly, [we need to work] so that the structure itself changes, so that it becomes much more efficient, more modern, more innovative. This is what we will work on," Putin said.
Earlier this year, Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov said that Russia can overtake Japan in the next three to four years in the World Bank ranking of the world's largest economies based on purchasing power parity.
Russia to Deploy Troops Near Finland, Sweden After Their Accession to NATO
Russia will station its troops and strike systems near the borders of Finland and Sweden in the wake of them joining NATO, Vladimir Putin said.
"We did not have troops there, now there will be. There were no strike systems, now there will be," Putin said.
"Why have they done this? In my opinion, this was based on purely political considerations. Perhaps they very much wanted to be members of the Western club, under some kind of umbrella," Putin added. "This is an absolutely senseless step from the point of view of ensuring their own national interests."
Russia Nullifies US Investment in Missile Defense by Creating Avangard Missiles
By creating Avangard hypersonic missile system, Russia has nullified everything that the United States has invested in its missile defense system, Vladimir Putin said.
Vladimir Putin said that despite immense spending, US military technology still loses compared with Russian developments
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 13, 2024
"For instance, if we calculate the cost of their well-known missile defense system and [if we calculate the cost] of the main component of suppressing [their]… pic.twitter.com/thqMeQZigP
"We, in fact, nullified everything they [Americans] did, everything they invested in this missile defense system," Putin said when comparing the US missile defense system and Russia's Avangard.
