German Defense Minister Lambrecht responds to nuclear threat
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The Kremlin invasion of Ukraine has sparked fierce tensions between Russia and NATO, culminating in Vladimir Putin making thinly veiled threats of a full-scale nuclear attack. While President Putin’s notions of nuclear war have been largely condemned and dismissed by Western leaders, German authorities have now warned allies not to view Russia’s threat as a “bluff”. The German Defence Minister has ordered NATO to take the possibility of a nuclear war “seriously” as global demands for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine continue to be ignored by leaders in Moscow.
Christine Lambrecht, the Minister for Defence, told the press: “We must take any threat of nuclear weapons seriously, and we take them very seriously both in Germany and within NATO.
“We regularly observe what changes there are – for example, through exercise scenarios, which do take place.
“That is why I can only say, don’t dismiss this as a bluff, but don’t let it paralyse your support either.
“No, it will not have any impact on our support for Ukraine. That will not be the consequence.
“But, it is also very clear to us that we are united in expressing that the use of such nuclear weapons, such dirty weapons as they are called, would be crossing red lines.”
President Putin has accused Western leaders of “nuclear blackmail,” having claimed NATO coordinated attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in a bid to deliberately cause a radiation leak. By contrast, Ukraine and other global leaders have blamed Russia for attacks on the region which have threatened the power supply and structural integrity of the facility.
In a national address to the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin highlighted his willingness to trigger an international nuclear conflict.
The Russian President said: “In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us.”
He affirmed that his statement was “not a bluff” and added that the Russian weapons systems were likely “more modern” than the military equipment installed in NATO countries.
Read more: Democrats urge Biden to ‘explore all possible avenues’ with Putin
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York just last month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz used his speech to condemn President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, while also noting the danger of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
Addressing an audience of world leaders, Mr Scholz said: “We mustn’t stand idly by when a major nuclear power armed to the teeth – a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the UN Security Council no less – seeks to shift borders through the use of violence..
“There is no justification whatsoever for Russia’s war of occupation against Ukraine. President Putin is waging this war with one single objective: to seize Ukraine.”
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Last week, NATO launched a two-week programme of nuclear deterrence exercises as part of a scheduled annual training routine.
The organisation specified: “The exercise, which runs until October 30 is a routine, recurring training activity and is not linked to any current world events.”
The operation, named ‘Steadfast Noon’, involves 14 countries and up to 60 aircraft in exercises which will take place largely over Belgium, as well as the North Sea and the United Kingdom.
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said: “This exercise helps ensure that the alliance’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective.”
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