Ukrainian officials appear to have recanted comments from President Volodymyr Zelensky who called on NATO to launch a preemptive strike on Russia to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threat.
In a virtual address to the Lowy Institute on October 6, Zelensky was asked how the international community can help prevent a possible nuclear war between Russia and Ukraine. In his answer, the Ukrainian president mentioned launching a “preemptive strike”.
“We already know that these people [Russian officials] Such atrocities are possible. What must NATO do? It will make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons,” he replied, according to Yahoo! News.
Zelensky added: [more] The point is, as I did before February 24th, I will again look to the international community to strike preventively and make sure they know what is in store if we use it. . [nuclear weapons].”
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The Ukrainian president argued that an attack could not happen “on the contrary” because “waiting for a Russian nuclear attack” would only escalate the conflict further.
In his speech, President Zelensky urged “rethinking the pressure” and “rethinking what NATO should do and the order in which it is applied.”
The Kyiv Independent reported that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed the comments were paramount to calling for a potentially earth-destroying nuclear war.
According to Yahoo, Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said Zelensky’s words were “a call to start a world war with unpredictable and horrific consequences.”
According to the Kyiv Independent, Zelensky spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov later explained that Zelensky was actually seeking preventive sanctions against Russia to prevent the use of nuclear weapons.
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Putin had initially suggested using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and on Sept. 21 said Russia would “do everything it can” if “its territorial integrity is threatened.”
The comments came as Russia sought to annex four regions in eastern and southeastern Ukraine, and voted to approve Kremlin-backed membership of Russia.
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“This is not a bluff,” added the then Russian president.
In Zelensky’s speech, he called for a “clear condemnation” from the world for the ongoing Russian aggression. He also called for “new and tougher sanctions” against Moscow.