The Threat of Nuclear War is Growing, Is There Something to Hide? Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the threat of nuclear war is increasing. "Is there something to hide?" the head of state posed this question during a meeting with members of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Development on Wednesday.

The topic of a potential global nuclear conflict was raised during the meeting by Svetlana Makovetskaya, director of the Center for Civil Analysis and Independent Research, who noted that there are many concerns regarding this issue. Specifically, she suggested that as a gesture of goodwill, the president should make a statement that "Russia will not be the first to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances."

In response, the president remarked, "As for the idea that Russia will not use it first under any circumstances — well, if it won't use it first, then it won't use it second either, because the opportunities for employing it in the event of a nuclear strike against our territory are extremely limited."

The Russian leader emphasized that Russia views nuclear weapons as a means of defense, as a possibility for retaliatory strikes.