The Financial Times (FT) has detailed how the United States, the United Kingdom, and France effectively neutralized Russia’s nuclear blackmail last autumn, mitigating the threat of nuclear weapons in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The report sheds light on the diplomatic efforts and strategic warnings that played a crucial role in averting a potential catastrophic escalation in the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had hinted at the possibility of a limited nuclear strike on Ukraine in his speech before the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Following the annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts, he vowed to use all available means to defend these conquests. In response, the US, UK, and France, alarmed by these threats, pledged retaliation using conventional weapons, as reported by unnamed acting and former officials cited by Max Seddon, the head of the Russian bureau of Financial Times.
Notably, Chinese leader Xi Jinping also intervened, personally warning Putin against the use of nuclear weapons during his visit to Moscow in March 2023. This diplomatic pressure, combined with the resolute stance of Western powers, played a crucial role in dissuading Russia from resorting to nuclear arms. The West’s response underscored its commitment to preventing a nuclear escalation and safeguarding regional stability.
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While the exact nature of the Western response remained undisclosed, NATO officials had earlier hinted at a “physical response” without providing specific details. Putin eventually acknowledged that deploying nuclear weapons would have no political or military sense, prompting him to largely cease discussing his atomic arsenal.
However, recent developments indicate Russia’s renewed interest in nuclear capabilities. Putin ordered the deployment of nuclear charges in neighboring Belarus and initiated the de-ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, raising concerns about the potential resumption of nuclear tests for the first time since the collapse of the USSR. These moves are perceived as attempts by Russia to deter further military support for Ukraine from the West.
The situation remains delicate, with ongoing military exercises by the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces, including simulations of a “massive nuclear strike” in response to a perceived enemy attack. As the international community closely monitors these developments, the diplomatic efforts and decisive responses by the US, UK, France, and China have played a pivotal role in preventing a nuclear catastrophe in the region.
