In the face of recurring speculation about Moscow’s possible use of nuclear weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov vigorously opposed such thoughts. “Nobody in Russia is thinking about using nuclear weapons, or even the idea of using them,” Peskov told PBS on Monday.
Moscow assumes that all tasks of “special military operation”, as Russia calls the invasion of Ukraine, will be fulfilled. But whatever the outcome of that action, it will not be a reason to use nuclear weapons, Peskow said.
He reiterated that Russia would only use its nuclear arsenal if there was a “threat to Russia’s existence”. Russia’s state existence and the events in Ukraine “have nothing to do with each other”.
This is where you’ll find third-party content
To display embedded content, your revocable consent is required for the transmission and processing of personal data, as providers of embedded content as third-party providers require this consent. [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (which can be revoked at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the US, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about it. You can withdraw your consent at any time via the privacy and privacy switch at the bottom of the page.
Concern in the West about Moscow’s possible nuclear weapons plans increased when President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces to be on alert at the start of Ukraine’s war of aggression.
Putin also warned that countries that intervened in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will have to deal with consequences “like they have never experienced before”. Peskov has now said: “I think everyone understands what he meant by that.” When asked directly by the PBS journalist if this meant the use of nuclear weapons, the Kremlin spokesman said: “No, I don’t think so.”
All developments in the live ticker
03:20 – IAEA: Ukraine reports no damage to nuclear material in Kharkiv
A recent bombing damaged a nuclear research facility in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, but its small amount of nuclear material remained intact. The announcement was made by the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Monday night, citing information from the Ukrainian nuclear regulatory authority.
According to Kiev, the building, thermal insulation and testing room were damaged, the IAEA said. But not the neutron source, which contains nuclear material used to generate neutrons for research and isotope production. The bombing had already taken place on Saturday. Before that, the building had already been damaged in a bombing about three weeks ago and had been cut off from the power supply.
The “neutron source” is listed in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) database for research reactors, but according to the Plant and Reactor Safety Society (GRS) in Cologne, it is not a classic reactor. According to previous IAEA reports, there was no nuclear chain reaction going on at the research facility. Only very small amounts of radioactive material are stored there.
Read too
03:15 – Indonesian State Company – Can buy cheap Russian oil
Indonesia’s state-owned energy company Pertamina is considering buying Russian crude. Amid current geopolitical tensions, his company sees an opportunity “to buy from Russia at a good price,” CEO Nicke Widyawati told a parliamentary hearing. “Politically, there is no problem as long as the company we deal with is not sanctioned,” she said. Payment can be processed through India. Indonesia currently chairs the Group of 20 most important industrialized and emerging countries (G20).
Read too
1:35 am – US sends fighter jets to Germany for radar defense
The United States has announced that it will send six fighter jets equipped to block radar signals to Germany. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stressed on Monday that the EA-18G Growler aircraft “should not be used against Russian forces in Ukraine”, but only strengthen “NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities”.
They are expected to be stationed at the US Air Force Base in Spangdahlem, Rhineland-Palatinate. The jets are therefore due to arrive in Germany on Monday along with 240 troops.
The EA-18G Growler is a modified version of the F/A-18 jet. They are used to block enemy radar and confuse air defense systems.
Read too
01:12 – Kremlin on refused ruble payments: not benefactors
After the EU refused to pay for gas supplies in rubles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced possible further measures from Russia. “No pay – no gasoline,” Peskow said, according to state news agency TASS on Monday night in an interview with US television network PBS. Moscow wants to wait for the EU’s response and then determine next steps. “But we definitely don’t intend to present ourselves as benefactors and deliver free gas to Western Europe,” Peskov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confidant has accused the West of unleashing an all-out economic war against Russia. “Unfortunately, these circumstances are extremely hostile,” Peskov said of the sanctions. This has brought us to the point of “total war”. “And we in Russia feel this war in such a way that the countries of Western Europe, the US, Canada and Australia are waging a real war on trade, on the economy, they are confiscating our property, our money and blocking our finances.” Peskov complained. “And now we must adapt to the new reality.”
Putin had ordered last week that natural gas could only be delivered to “hostile” states like Germany if payment was made in rubles. This has already been rejected by some heads of state and government with reference to breach of contract.
00:45 – Kremlin Spokesperson – Only use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to existence
According to Presidential Office spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia would only use nuclear weapons in case of a threat to its existence, not because of the war in Ukraine. “Of course, any outcome of the operation (in Ukraine) is no reason to use a nuclear weapon,” Peskov told PBS.
12:32 – EU states advise citizens not to participate in Ukraine war
In a joint statement, Germany and six other EU countries advised their citizens not to travel to Ukraine as volunteer fighters. Justice ministers from Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain signed an appeal to that effect after a meeting on Monday. “Of course we want to prevent people from traveling to a theater of war,” French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said after a meeting with his EU colleagues in Brussels.
In late February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the creation of an “international legion” within the Ukrainian armed forces to fight the Russian onslaught. In early February, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said 20,000 foreign fighters, mostly from European countries, had volunteered.
12:00 – Dahmen (Greens) – Include refugees in statutory KV
Green Party health politician Janosch Dahmen calls for war refugees to be included in mandatory health insurance. This should be done “as soon as possible”, says Dahmen of the Germany editorial network (Tuesday editions) according to a preliminary report. Current assistance is administratively complex and medically insufficient. Dahmen is also in favor of a limited professional license for Ukrainian doctors and nurses who fled to Germany: “It is urgently needed that medical professionals can work here, at least to some extent, in caring for other refugees.”
Read too
23:20 – Ukrainian Telecommunications Group – Internet failure due to cyber attack
According to company and government representatives, there was a serious cyber attack on the Ukrainian state telecommunications group Ukrtelecom. The hacker’s attack has been repelled and Internet access is gradually being restored, says a spokesperson for Ukrtelecom. The NetBlocks observatory had previously reported that network connections across the country had collapsed.
10:55 pm – E.ON boss warns of the consequences for the economy of a natural gas stop
The head of energy group E.ON, Leonhard Birnbaum, warns of the consequences for the economy if Russia cuts off energy supplies and supplies in Germany have to be prioritized. “It could be that a car factory will soon be missing the chip, but the steering stem, because the steel producer has not been given gas to treat the steering stem,” he tells ARD. Birnbaum speaks of a “scenario that would result in massive damage to the German economy”. Sufficient independence from the Russian power supply could probably be achieved within three years. “With oil it could be in a year, with coal maybe even faster.” With natural gas, however, it takes longer.