Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear deterrent alert is rhetoric designed to distract from the invasion of Ukraine and not linked practical steps to increase readiness to use the weapons, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Monday.
Putin put Russia's nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday, which the United States said served to escalate the war with "dangerous rhetoric".
"He's made this comment. We keep it under review," Wallace told Sky News after Putin said he was putting Russia's nuclear deterrent on high alert."But you know, what we shouldn't really forget is that this is a big attempt to distract away from his troubles in Ukraine by just deploying into the sort of media space these phrases."
Wallace said that Putin had behaved irrationally in deciding to invade Ukraine, and he wasn't going to get into speculation about what Putin would do next, adding that the West would maintain a state of readiness. But he added that, while Putin had ordered deterrence forces - which wield nuclear weapons - onto high alert, Britain believed that the command served largely a rhetorical purpose, and that Putin did not want to use them."The language that President Putin has used doesn't actually link to anything off a Russia readiness procedure. It's really, we assess, him putting the deterrent into the communication space, reminding people that he has a deterrent," Wallace said.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Biden imposes sanctions on Putin as Russian president continues attack on UkraineBiden imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his war on Ukraine, tightening an economic pressure campaign.
Weiterlesen »
Putin thanks Russian special forces for fulfilling their 'heroic' duty in UkrainePresident Vladimir Putin on Sunday thanked Russia's special forces, singling out those who are 'heroically fulfilling their military duty' in Ukraine, in a televised address that was also published on the Kremlin website.
Weiterlesen »
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russian forces enter Kharkiv, second-largest city, as Putin intensifies invasionRussian forces enter Kharkiv, second-largest city, as invasion intensifies. Follow our coverage from journalists on the ground.
Weiterlesen »
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert; Ukraine announces talks with RussiaUkrainians held Kyiv and Kharkiv as Putin's invasion intensified, and President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of attacking civilians.
Weiterlesen »
Trump defends praise of Putin in days since Russian troops invaded UkraineTrump also called Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky 'a brave man' in remarks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
Weiterlesen »
Trump defends praise of Putin in days since Russian troops invaded UkraineFormer President Donald Trump defended his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday while also calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 'a brave man' amid Russia's deadly invasion of his country.
Weiterlesen »