'Russia would use nuclear weapons if...': Moscow warns West over Ukraine invasion

Russia would only use nuclear weapons in the context of the Ukraine conflict if it were facing an "existential threat," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during an interaction with CNN International on Tuesday (March 22).

Peskov said as quoted by the media outlet, "We have a concept of domestic security, and it's public. You can read all the reasons for nuclear arms to be used. So if it is an existential threat for our country, then it can be used in accordance with our concept."

Peskov's crucial comments came on being asked whether he was "convinced or confident" that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not use the nuclear option in the Ukrainian context.

Western allies fear that Russia might use weapons of mass destruction during its invasion of Ukraine. In the past, Putin hinted at using nuclear weapons against nations that he saw as a threat to Russia.

In February, Putin said in a televised statement: "No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history."

On February 28, Putin had also ordered the Minister of Defense and the chief of the General Staff to place the Russian Army Deterrence Force on "combat alert".

Russia has already admitted that it used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said that they have used its newest Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in Ukraine on March 17 to destroy a weapons storage site in the country's west.

Important to note that Russia has never before admitted using high-precision weapons in combat. State news agency RIA Novosti said it was the first use of the Kinzhal hypersonic weapons during the conflict in pro-Western Ukraine.

When it comes to nuclear capability, Russia maintains the world's largest stockpile of nuclear warheads and has earned minimal support around the world for its attack on its ex-Soviet neighbour.

Asked about Peskov's statement, and Russia'snuclearstance, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby called Moscow's rhetoric on the potential use ofnuclearweapons "dangerous."

"It's not the way a responsiblenuclearpower should act," he told reporters.

That said, Kirby stressed that Pentagon officials "haven't seen anything that would lead us to conclude that we need to change our strategic deterrent posture."

"We monitor this as best we can every day," he added.

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