Russia's Change of Course: Kremlin Denies Seeking Nuclear War, Just One Day After Ally's Threat

Sept. 20, 2024, 7:14 p.m.

Read time estimation: 2 minutes.

  1

Following a warning of potential nuclear conflict by a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin seemed to modify its stance. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Russia does not desire a nuclear war.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Lavrov stressed that discussions about pressing the “red button” are irresponsible and inappropriate, according to TASS.

“We talk about red lines, expecting that our assessments, statements will be heard by intelligent, decision-making people,” Lavrov said. “It is not serious to say that if tomorrow you do not do what I demand, we will press the ‘red button.’”

Advertisement Lavrov assured that Russia does not want nuclear conflict, reiterating, “Nobody wants a nuclear war.”

U-turn on nuclear war

These comments stand in sharp contrast to the statements made just a day prior by Vyacheslav Volodin, a close confidant of Putin and speaker of the Russian Duma. Volodin had threatened nuclear escalation in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, which utilized Western-supplied missiles.

Volodin warned that such actions could spark a “global war with the use of nuclear weapons,” and stated that Russia would retaliate with “more powerful weapons” if the West approved such attacks.

Volodin also asserted that a strike using Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, known as “Satan II,” could reach the French city of Strasbourg within minutes, escalating fears of nuclear conflict.

Volodin’s remarks came in response to the European Parliament’s recent vote affirming Ukraine’s right to target Russian military positions with Western weapons. The resolution, adopted with 425 votes in favor, argued that the current situation “hinders Ukraine’s ability to fully exercise its right to self-defense under international law.”

While Lavrov acknowledged Russia’s possession of powerful weapons “in full combat readiness,” he downplayed the immediate threat of nuclear war, indicating a more measured response from the Kremlin following Volodin’s rhetoric.

With inputs from agencies