(Dan Tri) – Russian officials warned that Moscow would respond with military action if the West sent troops to Ukraine.
Vice Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (Photo: Tass).
`Sending their troops to Ukrainian territory would involve their country directly in the war and we would have to respond. And unfortunately, not on Ukrainian territory. There would be a global tragedy
Mr. Medvedev warned that Western elites will not be able to avoid Russia’s reaction whether on Capitol Hill (USA), the Elysee Palace (France) or 10 Downing Street (UK).
`This was recognized by Mr. Kennedy and Khrushchev more than 60 years ago. But those who are coming to power in the West do not want to recognize this,` Mr. Medvedev added.
According to the former Russian president, that is why Russia will conduct tactical nuclear weapons exercises on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.
In the first days of the conflict in Ukraine, President Putin announced the transfer of Russian nuclear forces to `special combat alert mode`.
Early last year, Mr. Putin announced the end of Russia’s participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the United States.
This is the first time Russia has deployed its nuclear arsenal outside its borders since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Belarus has a 1,250km long border with NATO member countries Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Tactical nuclear weapons are weapons designed for use on the battlefield, have a smaller design and are used at short distances, unlike strategic nuclear weapons which are used to attack targets.
The Kremlin indicated that the latest tactical nuclear weapons exercises were in response to statements by French President Emmanuel Macron and British officials.
Russia in recent days has criticized President Macron for telling the Economist magazine that he `does not rule out anything` in the West’s response to the war in Ukraine, including sending troops to the country
Mr. Macron’s views received support from leaders of several countries.
The Kremlin also criticized British Foreign Secretary David Cameron for claiming that Kiev had the right to attack targets inside Russian territory.
Democratic leader in the US House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries also did not rule out the possibility that Washington would be forced to send troops to the Ukrainian war zone if Kiev is defeated by Russia.
However, US officials have repeatedly affirmed that there are no plans to send troops to Ukraine.
Late last month, the US Congress approved a new aid package worth nearly 61 billion USD for Ukraine after about half a year of stagnation.
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