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By Toby Meyjes
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An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would use nuclear weapons against Europe if it ever found itself close to defeat.
Sergey Karaganov, honorary chairman of Moscow's main foreign policy think tank, the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, made the threat during an interview with Tucker Carlson on Wednesday.
"What is defeat of Russia? If Russia comes ever close to a defeat, that would mean that Russia now would use nuclear weapons and Europe would be finished physically," he said.
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"So I mean, it’s simply impossible even to think about it, but they have been talking because they need a war to rationalize their stay in power, to rationalize their existence."
Why It Matters
The warning comes amid a stalling peace process to end the war in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump told Reuters that he believes Putin is "ready to make a deal", but that Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky "was having a hard time getting there". Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov agreed with that assessment when speaking to reporters on Thursday.
It also comes with the NATO alliance under strain in the face of Trump's push to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. European allies have rallied to Copenhagen's side after the president said if the U.S. does not acquire the island then it will fall into Chinese or Russian hands.
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What To Know
During the interview broadcast on January 14, Karaganov, a former advisor of Putin, characterized the belief that Russia could be defeated as a "fantastic illusion" and accused European leaders of having historically low levels of intelligence.
He also claimed that Europeans "believe war will never come to their territory" and that it was Russia’s task "to bring them to senses, hopefully without using nuclear weapons, only with the threat."
He added: "But sooner or later, if they continue to support this war, sacrificing numerous of the Ukrainians and others ... we’ll have to punish them severely. Hopefully in a limited sense".
Karaganov’s commentary expands on themes he has voiced previously. In June 2023, he publicly advocated for Russia to threaten and even use nuclear weapons "to bring those who have lost their mind to reason".
What People Are Saying
Karaganov to Carlson: "I am criticizing my government of being too prudent and too patient with them."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of a peace deal: "President Putin and the Russian side maintain their openness."
What Happens Next
The prospect for a negotiated peace remains distant. Ukraine’s government maintains it cannot give up territory. Russia is demanding Ukraine hand over control of all of the Donbas.
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