Press
Russia has recently stepped up its threats against the West. A British appeal is now leading to a further possible escalation.
Moscow – Since the beginning of the Ukraine War Russia has repeatedly threatened the West with the use of nuclear weapons. States that have promised support to Kiev in the form of arms deliveries are particularly President Vladimir Putin a thorn in the side. So far, however, the weapons delivered have only been used for defense in Ukraine itself – but according to British Minister Grant Shapps and Selenskyj, this could change. Russia is responding with a threat that is causing concern.
Last week, Britain’s Defence Minister Grant Shapps appealed to other states to allow Ukraine to use the weapons it supplies to attack targets on the Russian-occupied peninsula. Crimea Partners such as Germany, which have the ability to supply weapons with a longer range, should allow the use in Crimea, Shapps demanded. Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj had already said in a conversation with the New York Times made a similar appeal.
Russia threatens to attack British targets – even “outside Ukraine”
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, responded to the British minister’s statements with a clear threat: if British weapons are used to attack Russian territory, Moscow will respond with attacks on British targets. In the scenario described by Zakharova, the British targets could be “on the territory of Ukraine and beyond.”
Russia had previously threatened to attack British targets in Great Britain. Western states had previously feared that the use of supplied weapons on Russian territory could be viewed by Putin as a provocation and fuel further escalation. However, in the USA, as in Great Britain, a rethink is also taking place despite the threats from Moscow.
Britain sends weapons to Ukraine – drones have already caused great damage to Russia
In April, Great Britain promised Ukraine another aid package – the most comprehensive since the beginning of the war. If these weapons are then really used for attacks on Crimea, as Shapps demanded, this could mean considerable damage for Russia. After all, the losses for Putin’s military on Ukrainian soil were already immense. Drones supplied by Great Britain are said to have Business Insider caused $1.2 billion worth of damage to Russian military equipment. The new package will deliver another 10,000 drones to the attacked country.
In recent weeks, pressure from Moscow on the West has increased. At the end of April, the international community expressed concern when Russia moved the Iskander-M missile launch system, which can be equipped with tactical nuclear weapons, to the Finnish border. The situation in the Baltic Sea had become tense in recent days after Russia unilaterally wanted to extend its maritime borders towards Finland and Lithuania. President Putin also issued clear threats against the West on Russia’s “Victory Day”.
Threats from Russia to the West: Putin’s willingness to take risks increases
The nuclear weapons threats from Russia have not yet been followed by any action in the Ukraine war, which has been going on for over two years. NATOVice President Mircea Geoană recently said in an interview with Daily MirrorHe said he could not observe any fundamental change in Russia’s strategy regarding the actual use of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, he could observe that Russia was showing a greater willingness to take risks than it did a few years ago. (dpa/nbe)
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