Russia would only use nuclear weapons faced with 'existential threat', Kremlin says

US called Kremlin spokesman's comments 'dangerous'

A long-range, nuclear-capable Tu-160 bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces takes-off to patrol in Belarus from an air field in Russia. Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP

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Russia would only use nuclear weapons in the context of the Ukraine conflict if it were facing an “existential threat”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN International on Tuesday.

“We have a concept of domestic security and it's public. You can read all the reasons for nuclear arms to be used,” Mr Peskov said. “So if it is an existential threat for our country, then it can be used in accordance with our concept.”

Mr Peskov's comment came as interviewer Christiane Amanpour pushed him on whether he was “convinced or confident” that President Vladimir Putin would not use the nuclear option in the Ukrainian context.

On February 28, days after Russian troops invaded Ukraine, Mr Putin announced that he had put the country's strategic nuclear forces on high alert in a move that sparked global alarm.

Asked about Mr Peskov's statement and Russia's nuclear stance more broadly, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby called Moscow's rhetoric on potential use of nuclear weapons “dangerous".

“It's not the way a responsible nuclear power should act,” he told reporters.

That said, Mr Kirby stressed that Pentagon officials “haven't seen anything that would lead us to conclude that we need to change our strategic deterrent posture".

“We monitor this as best we can every day,” he added.

Russia maintains the world's largest stockpile of nuclear warheads and has earned minimal support around the world for its attack on its ex-Soviet neighbour.

Western defence officials said following Mr Putin's February announcement that they had not seen any significant sign of mobilisation of Russia's nuclear forces — its strategic bombers, missiles and submarines.

But Moscow has also said that if the US and Nato allies supplied Ukraine with fighter jets, it could escalate and expand the war, potentially putting Russia in direct confrontation with nuclear-armed rivals in the West.

This month, Beatrice Fihn, who leads the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said Mr Putin is using nuclear “blackmail” to keep the international community from interfering in his Ukraine invasion.

“This is one of the scariest moments really when it comes to nuclear weapons,” she said.

Questioned further about Russia's offensive in Ukraine, Mr Peskov said it had no intention of occupying its neighbour and asserted his country was not attacking civilians.

The main goals of the “operation”, he said, are “to get rid of the military potential of Ukraine".

“This is why our military are targeting only military goals and military objects on the territory of Ukraine. Not civil ones,” he said.

Widespread photographic and video evidence supports human rights groups' allegations that Russian forces have attacked numerous civilian targets in Ukraine.

A bright flaring object lands near the nuclear plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine. AP

Russian forces shelled Europe’s largest nuclear plant early on Friday. AP

Surveillance camera footage shows a flare landing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Reuters

The flare lands at the plant. Reuters

Multiple blasts at the plant were recorded. AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy makes a statement following the attack. Reuters

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine, on September 2, 2019. AP

A power-generating unit at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. AP Photo