Medvedev admits Russia will use nuclear weapons if necessary

Russia may use nuclear weapons if necessary, but there is no desire to do so. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev on November 22.

"It is natural if necessary, contrary to the fact that we do not aspire to it," he said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV channel.

Medvedev also pointed to the potential of the Oreshnik ballistic missile to change the course of action in the Ukrainian conflict. The deputy chairman emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine could be ended if "NATO stops fueling the war."

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Earlier, on November 21, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed to Russia's efforts to avoid nuclear strikes. He also expressed hope that other countries have the same position and will not engage in provocative actions.

On the same day, a representative of the Pentagon's Strategic Command, Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan, said that the United States allows such an exchange of nuclear strikes, in which the country would retain a reserve of strategic weapons for further leadership on the world stage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved Russia's updated nuclear doctrine on November 19. The updated document includes the amendments that the head of state announced in September. In particular, for the first time a definition of a potential adversary against whom Russia is conducting nuclear deterrence is introduced.

Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, in turn, noted that the U.S. is not in a state of conflict with Russia because of changes in nuclear weapons policy. According to her, changes in Russia's nuclear doctrine do not affect relations between the states.