Russia warns: Fewer steps to nuclear weapons

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says there are "fewer and fewer steps" to the use of nuclear weapons, Russian Interfax reports.

President Vladimir Putin also warns Britain against providing additional weapons to Ukraine.

If that happens, Russia will respond, he says.





The president and defense minister spoke after Vladimir Putin sat in a meeting with China's leader Xi Jinping.

Among other things, Putin spoke about Britain sending tanks and additional ammunition to Ukraine. According to Russian Interfax, among what is sent are also grenades with depleted uranium.

- But I want to emphasize that if all this happens, then Russia will be forced to react accordingly. I mean that the collective West has already started using weapons with a nuclear component, Vladimir Putin said, according to the state news agency.
"There aren't that many steps"

Putin is said to have been informed of the new delivery during his meeting with Xi Jinping.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was also informed. When he was then asked whether the delivery meant that the world had come one step closer to nuclear conflict, he replied:

- Here we can only say one thing: There are not that many steps. A step has been passed. There are fewer and fewer of them, he said, according to Interfax.

He also said that it is "necessary to think carefully about each subsequent step".

During the meeting between the Russian and Chinese leaders, the parties have simultaneously stated that there is nothing to gain from a nuclear conflict. In a statement, the leaders targeted their common enemy the United States, criticizing it for undermining global strategic stability.


[link to www.expressen.se (secure)]

[link to www.interfax.ru (secure)]