Ukraine’s Ambassador warns world of 'nuclear warfare' threat as Russia extends clutches

Ukraine’s Ambassor Vym Prystaiko on Tuesday appeared to warn world of a looming danger of ‘nuclear warfare’ as he said that Russia’s President Vlimir Putin has chartered an agreement that allows him to deploy weapons in Ukraine's breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Moscow’s complete arsenal incorporates nuclear weapons, Prystaiko warned in a televised remark with BBC Newsnight, ding that in order to assert power over a bigger chunk of his nation, Putin will threaten nuclear attack. 

Ukrainian Ambassor backed his claims by saying: “I used to be listening to what he was saying for nearly an hour of this historic debate with himself.” He went on to d, “I’ve to let you know when nuclear nation is asking your nation a historic mistake which needs to be mounted – sure, you must be anxious about what he has in thoughts.” 

[Credit: Russian Defense Ministry via AP]

Kyiv's ambassor reminds of Putin's statement on nuclear war

Ukraine’s Ambassor was referring to Russian President Vlimir Putin warnings earlier, that  world is “facing a rising threat of a nuclear war” which can be blamed on US for its pullout from arms control treaties and its destabilsing military plans in eastern Europe under garb of “NATO solidarity”. At a state news conference, Russian leer Putin blatantly warned, “it could le to destruction of civilization as a whole and maybe even our planet.” He even ded that threat of a nuclear conflict danger “is close and real” as world is witnessing breakup of arms control system. 

A ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia. Russia is planning massive drills of its strategic military forces that provide a stark reminder of country's nuclear might. [Credit: AP]

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Intercontinental ballistic missiles are launched by Vlimir Monomakh nuclear submarine of Russian navy.[Credit: AP]

“In particular, growth of US and NATO military forces in direct proximity to Russian border and major military drills, including unscheduled ones, are a cause for concern,” Putin said. He threatened at a state television dress, “…if our Western colleagues continue ir obviously aggressive line, we will take appropriate military-technical reciprocal measures and will have a tough response to ir unfriendly steps.”

Putin accused US of unilaterally withdrawing from 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and not coming on negotiation table for extension of 2010 New START agreement, a treaty between Moscow and Washington aimed at halving number of strategic nuclear missile launchers. agreement, which was signed on April 8, 2010, in Prague and replaced  1991 START, was a crucial bipartisan process of verifiably reducing US and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals begun by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

[Credit: AP]

Russian nuclear submarines Prince Vlimir, above, and Yekaterinburg are harbored at a Russian naval base in Gazhiyevo, Kola Peninsula. [Credit: AP]

START arms control treaty capped accountable deployed strategic nuclear warhes and bombs at 1,550, down approximately 30% for both Moscow and Washington from 2,200 limits set by SORT and down 74 percent from START-accountable limit of 6,000. It also involved reduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers assigned to nuclear missions are limited to 700. But both US and Russia have salvaged treaty citing constraints to ir own nuclear stockpiles. 

Putin broached nuclear warfare during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, as he warned: "If Ukraine joins NATO and decides to take Crimea back through military means, European countries will automatically get drawn into a military conflict with Russia? Of course, NATO's united potential and that of Russia are incomparable."

Russian nuclear submarine breaks through Arctic ice during military drills at an unspecified location. [Credit: AP]

Putin warned at conference, "We understand that, but we also understand that Russia is one of world's leing 'nuclear powers' and is superior to many of those countries in terms of number of 'modern nuclear force components'. But re will be no winners, and you will find yourself drawn into this conflict against your will."

Warning world about threat of nuclear warfare, being not heeded seriously, Ukraine’s Ambassor Vym Prystaiko warned: “I consider that as of now, what we’re seeing is a blatant violation of worldwide guidelines, not simply integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.” He n ded, “It is a clear hazard to our state. An incursion has alrey begun.”

Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine K-266 Orel. [Credit: AP]

Ukraine’s Prystaiko mitted that Russian sea and air assaults may be tougher to counteract by Ukrainian forces. But he ded that Kyiv has coated quick risk of a tank incursion. Putin recently oversaw nuclear exercises and military maneuvers from Kremlin as his troops test-launched hypersonic and cruise missiles at sea and land-based targets. Two ballistic missiles were launched during nuclear drills one from a site in northwest Russia and second from a submarine in Barents Sea.

Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber fires a cruise missile at test targets, during military drills. [Credit: AP]

“All missiles hit ir targets, confirming ir performance objectives,” Kremlin later confirmed in a statement, ding drills included Tu-95 bombers and submarines. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov h also me a reference to nuclear launch codes at conference. “Such test launches, of course, are impossible without he of state. You know about famous black suitcase and red button,” Peskov said.